Asbestos was found in eye shadow in a children’s makeup kit, according to lab tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group.
It was found that every gram of the eye shadow in the Princess Girl’s All-in-One Deluxe Makeup Palette tested contained more than 4 million asbestos fibers. The makeup palette was available on the company’s website and on Amazon and Ebay, but now seems to be removed from all sites.
Exposure to asbestos is dangerous. Any amount of exposure can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other cancers.
Here are some tips to make sure your children are safe:
- Remember that the government does not require safety testing of cosmetics before they go on the market; and kids, who generally have thinner skin than adults, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of hazardous ingredients.
- Be wary of toy makeup kits. They are often made from cheap and potentially hazardous ingredients, including asbestos, lead, and other chemicals of concern. Use Skin Deep® to make sure you are choosing the safest makeup for your child to use.
- Avoid powders, especially any that contain talc. Most talc mines are contaminated with asbestos and therefore most “talc” in products is really talc and asbestos. Makeup in powder form is easily inhaled into little lungs and can damage them. Instead, look for cream-based blushes and eye shadow.
- Choose nail polish free from phthalates, formaldehyde, and toluene. These ingredients are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and allergies.
- Look for products without the term “fragrance.” This umbrella term can be hiding hundreds of chemicals, including common allergens and endocrine disruptors. Instead, choose fragrance-free products or those that list the fragrance ingredients on the label.
- Choose lipsticks carefully. They can contain lead, which can impair brain development at extremely low doses, as well as nickel, cobalt, and chromium, which can cause skin sensitization and contact dermatitis. Instead look for a tasty, shiny, beeswax-based lip balm.
