Is There Asbestos in Your Cosmetics?

Could There Be Toxic Asbestos in Your Cosmetics? Your Make-Up Might Be Contaminated – Yikes!

It’s a horrible thought – but it’s a fact. There is asbestos in some cosmetics and make-up. Let’s look at how this is possible – and what you can do to avoid it.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral – but it’s highly toxic and can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Older houses used to contain asbestos as a building material.

Why is there Asbestos in Cosmetics?

Many cosmetics contain talc / talcum powder, which is also a natural mineral. Talc and asbestos often occur together, so when talc is mined, it is often contaminated with asbestos.

Manufacturers don’t purposely add asbestos to cosmetics, but there is a lack of regulation around cosmetic-grade talc. Because of that relaxed oversight, no one is checking for the presence of asbestos. Companies don’t have to test their talc for asbestos before putting it into their products – possibly harming consumers.

(And there are already several nasties in many cosmetics – be aware, check out the dangers here )

Which Cosmetics Contain Asbestos?

Talc is added to makeup because it has a soft, silky texture (it’s the softest mineral on Earth), and it acts as filler. It is a common ingredient in

• powder compacts
• finishing powders
• eye shadows
• blushes / blushers
• foundations
• creams

Because talc absorbs moisture and reduces the appearance of oily skin, talc-based face powders are commonly used on top of cream foundations to “set” the foundation so that it stays in place and looks naturally dry instead of oily and shiny.

Talc is added to many consumer products as well – deodorants, powders, soap, feminine hygiene products, contraception devices, pills, textiles, chalk, children’s balloons, clay and crayons.

What About The Law?

There are no U.S. laws or regulations that strictly prohibit talc used in consumer products from containing asbestos.

The U.S. government says that products may contain up to 1% asbestos and be labeled “asbestos-free”, even though they contain small amounts of asbestos. The EPA tried to ban asbestos in 1989, but pro-asbestos lobbying groups overturned the ban in 1991, and no appeal was allowed.

Cosmetics in the EU are regulated for safety, but there are no specifications or tests for talc.

Why Is Asbestos in Cosmetics Dangerous?

The greatest risk comes from loose powder products such as baby powder, finishing powder and compact foundation, because you can inhale the asbestos, which over the long term exposes you to lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Not all talc contains asbestos. And even if it does, it’s in very small quantities.

But if you’re using cosmetics all the time, there might be one or more products with a high enough percentage to be risky in the long term.

How To Avoid Asbestos in Cosmetics

Cosmetics labelled “all natural” or organic doesn’t mean they’re asbestos-free. Talc and asbestos are both natural. So, look at the ingredients list (if there is one) and avoid products that contain talc.

You can also use these –

• An excellent resource that I use all the time is Skin Deep. It’s for American products, so if you live outside the US you might not see all the products you use, but they do very thorough testing and you can find talc-free cosmetics there.
• Check for updates from The Mesothelioma Center at asbestos.com

It’s probably wise to avoid talc in general –

• Some scientific research indicates talc may increase the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in women and lung cancer among miners
• Consider avoiding or reducing the use of baby powder, which is predominately made of talc, because infants can easily breathe in the powder.

As usual, it’s a case of “buyer beware” – you need to do your own research to find products that are truly safe, because you can’t rely on the marketing blurb on products to tell you the truth.

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What do you think about asbestos in cosmetics? Were you aware of it before you read this? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,