Mineral Makeup Health Risks

Everyone's raving about how great the mineral makeup products are.
Let's stop and think for a moment. As much as "Mineral" sounds like a good ingredient, because we all know we need vitamins and minerals, what exactly are these minerals, are there any health risks, side effects?

It is important for everyone to be aware that there are no standards or guidelines for calling a product a "mineral makeup". Beside the fact that we cannot simply use any mineral on our body, the product may be less than 0.5% mineral as part of the finished product. Without any regulation, practically all makeup could be considered mineral.

Furthermore, it is being applied to the largest organ on the body, the skin and let's not forget that it is mainly applied on our face where the particles can and will find their way to our lungs and rest of our body. If you were to take a close look after the application of a mineral makeup, you would be able to see particles were caught by your nasal hair. Because they are such small particles, only a very small portion would be caught and the rest obviously ended up in your lungs. Let's take a closer look at some of the common ingredients, these are from a popular mineral makeup brand:

INGREDIENT | Concern / Health Risk

POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)

BHA (May Contain): Cancer, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources

SALICYLIC ACID: Violations, restrictions & warnings, Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Enhanced skin absorption

FRAGRANCE: Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous

METHYLPARABEN: Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Biochemical or cellular level changes

MANGANESE: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources

TRIETHANOLAMINE: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)

BHT: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

CETYL PEG/ PPG-10/ 1 DIMETHICONE: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)

ALUMINIUM MYRISTATE: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Multiple, additive exposure sources

BARIUM SULFATE: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Enhanced skin absorption

TOCOPHERYL ACETATE: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)

IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns (FORMALDEHYDE)

TALC: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns (ASBESTIFORM FIBERS)

PROPYLPARABEN: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

BUTYLPARABEN: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes

FERRIC FERROCYANIDE: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Credits: Ingredient information obtained from Environmental Working Group (http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com)