For several years, Claire’s has been under scrutiny after asbestos was found in their makeup marketed to children. Now, the FDA has confirmed three products tested positive for asbestos.
The FDA is urging consumers not to use Claire’s Eye Shadows, Compact Powder and Contour Palette. These products are believed not to currently be in stores, but consumers who have them are home should stop using them immediately.
In 2017, a report by CNN determined asbestos was in nine makeup products. Claire’s subsequently removed the products from the shelves.
After the products were removed from stores, the FDA conducted independent tests to determine if they contained asbestos. Since the testing was done by a third-party lab, the FDA wanted to confirm that the reports were accurate. In early 2019, the tests performed by the FDA did confirm the presence of asbestos in the products.
Currently there are no laws requiring companies to have cosmetic products tested and approved for safety by the FDA before they are released to the market.
Cosmetic products can often contain talc; asbestos and talc are often found together which allows the talc to easily be contaminated. Asbestos inhaled or ingested can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other cancers.
