Asbestos in Makeup

How Does Asbestos End Up in Makeup?

Asbestos ends up in makeup when it contaminates talc, which are both minerals that form close together in the ground. Even careful talc mining can mix asbestos in with the talc. Removing asbestos from talc isn’t simple. 

As Karen Selby, RN and Patient Advocate, explains, “Talc, is a very common product that’s used in a lot of cosmetics and powder because of its silky feeling and absorbent attributes.” Talc helps products go on evenly, absorbs oil, creates a matte finish and helps makeup stay in place.

Key Facts About Asbestos in Talc-Based Makeup

1. Talc is the softest mineral on Earth.
2. It works as a filler that spreads pigment evenly, making it easier to blend powders, blushes, eyeshadows and foundations.
3. When people use talc-based makeup near the mouth, nose or eyes, they risk inhaling asbestos fibers they can’t see or feel.
4. A number of talc-based products have tested positive for asbestos and faced recalls.

Tests may miss trace levels, and “asbestos-free” labels don’t always mean the product is truly safe. While using these products, people can breathe in microscopic asbestos fibers, which can cause asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma cancer.

It wasn’t until 2024 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule requiring standardized tests for asbestos in products containing talc. The rule hasn’t taken effect yet, but it could lead to stronger safety rules for personal care items. This could help reduce the public’s risk of developing mesothelioma from contaminated makeup.

Insight From a Mesothelioma Specialist

“I could go across the street right now to the mall and pick up talc powder that I know from previous testing, more likely than not, will contain some amount of asbestos.”

Sean Fitzgerald, director of Research and Analytical Services, Scientific Analytical Institute

What Makeup Has Tested Positive for Asbestos?

Most makeup products that tested positive for asbestos were powder-based, such as blush, face powder and eyeshadow. When powder products are applied, they can release asbestos fibers into the air, increasing the risk of exposure. Inhaling or swallowing asbestos from contaminated products can lead to serious asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Sean Fitzgerald stresses the importance of using the most advanced testing available to find asbestos in makeup. He uses EPA-recommended transmission electron microscope testing. He tells us, “When other laboratories tested, perhaps they’re using polarized light microscopy or X-ray diffraction, which is not sensitive enough. If I only use PLM or XRD on my samples, more likely than not, only a couple of them would have been positive, if any.”

Products that passed less sensitive tests may still contain asbestos and not all brands have committed to removing talc from their products. Product recalls that have happened as a result of asbestos-contaminated talc over the years haven’t pushed the cosmetics industry to make widespread changes.

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Asbestos in Children’s Makeup

Manufacturers aggressively marketed talc-based makeup to children through celebrity branding and toy-aisle placement. In 2015, the EWG Action Fund found asbestos in children’s crayons and toy crime scene kits. In 2017, television news stations commissioned independent lab testing and found asbestos in children’s makeup from Claire’s and Justice, both chains of children’s stores. This prompted both retailers to pull products from shelves.

Claire’s claimed independent testing cleared its products. In 2018, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group tested more than a dozen talc-based makeup products and found asbestos in 3 Claire’s products still on shelves. The FDA then conducted its own testing and in 2019 confirmed the contamination, issuing safety alerts for products from both retailers. Some of those products later reappeared under different names or packaging.

Children’s Makeup That Tested Positive for Asbestos

• Claire’s Bedazzled Rainbow Heart Makeup Set
• Claire’s Compact Powder (style #83915-9)
• Claire’s Contour Palette (style #40194-3)
• Claire’s Eye Shadows
• Claire’s JoJo Siwa Makeup Set
• Claire’s Metallic Hot Pink Glitter 48 Piece Makeup Set
• Claire’s Mint Glitter Makeup Set
• Claire’s Pink Glitter Cellphone Makeup Compact
• Claire’s Pink Glitter Palette with Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss
• Claire’s Professional Eye Makeup Kit
• Claire’s Rainbow Bedazzled Rectangle Makeup Set
• Claire’s Rainbow Bedazzled Star Makeup Set
• Claire’s Rainbow Glitter Heart-Shaped Makeup Set
• Claire’s Shadow and Highlight Finishing Kit
• Claire’s Ultimate Mega Makeup Set
• IQ Toys Princess Girl’s All-in-One Deluxe Makeup Palette
• Justice Just Shine Shimmer Powder

No federal law requires asbestos testing in children’s cosmetics, so brands don’t have to prove their talc is asbestos-free. That means more unsafe products could still be on shelves today. Some recalled products have already reappeared under different names or packaging, making it impossible for parents to rely on recalls alone.

Small exposures during childhood can lead to serious illness decades later, including mesothelioma and  ovarian cancer. There’s no foolproof way to know if the talc in a product is truly asbestos-free without extensive testing. Simply looking for “all natural” or organic cosmetics isn’t enough to avoid asbestos-contaminated talc. That’s because talc is an all-natural substance. Until federal testing requirements are in place, consumers must look at the product label to see if it contains talc and avoid it if it does.

Can Makeup Cause Mesothelioma and Other Cancers?

Inhaled asbestos fibers that become airborne when applying makeup can lodge in tissues in the body and cause irritation and chronic inflammation. Over decades this can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer cells. In July 2024, the World Health Organization confirmed asbestos-contaminated talc causes cancer.

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos also causes lung cancer and raises the risk of ovarian cancer. A 2024 NIH study linked regular genital talc use to higher ovarian cancer rates, adding to growing evidence that long-term talc use poses a serious cancer risk. 

If you used talc-based cosmetics regularly and have concerns, talk to your doctor and document which products you used and for how long. If you have a mesothelioma or ovarian cancer diagnosis and a history of talc-based cosmetic use, financial assistance for asbestos-related illness may be available for you and your family.

“If you’re getting small doses of talc that may be contaminated with asbestos, over time, that can be a health hazard.”

Karen Selby , RN and Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center

The Regulation Gap: Why Contaminated Makeup Is Still on Shelves

The FDA can only act when it can show a product causes harm under normal use conditions. Mesothelioma, for example, has a latency period of 20 to 60 years to develop, so the FDA can rarely meet that bar. That gap keeps contaminated products on shelves. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 didn’t include a requirement for pre-market safety testing for cosmetic ingredients. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 didn’t either.

 MoCRA does require the FDA to issue a standardized asbestos testing rule for talc-based cosmetics. The FDA tried in 2024 but withdrew its proposed rule, according to the Federal Register. The agency hasn’t announced when it will comply with MoCRA’s rule. U.S. law allows brands to label products “asbestos-free” even if they contain up to 1% asbestos, which can amount to hundreds or thousands of fibers in a single product. 

The cosmetics industry has self-regulated since 1976, when the Personal Care Products Council asked members to source asbestos-free talc. Congress has considered bills to close these gaps, including the Children’s Product Warning Label Act and the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, but hasn’t passed either one. In 2024, the European Union classified talc as a carcinogen and moved to restrict its use in cosmetics sold there, but that classification doesn’t apply to products sold in the U.S.

Legal Help After a Cancer Diagnosis From Talc Cosmetics

People diagnosed with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer from asbestos-contaminated talc cosmetics have legal options. Several lawsuits have resulted in significant trial verdicts and negotiated settlements.

In 2026, an appeals court upheld a trial verdict of $52.1 million awarded to Rita-Ann Chapman in 2022. She developed mesothelioma from Avon face powder and body powder. Sarah Plant was awarded a trial verdict of $29.14 million in her talc lawsuit against Mary Kay and talc supplier Whittaker Clark & Daniels in 2025.

Hannah Fletcher’s undisclosed but substantial 2023 settlement with Clinique and Estée Lauder has inspired dozens of other plaintiffs to pursue compensation. Pursuing your legal options can help if you’re facing cancer-related expenses from talc use. Our Patient Advocates can connect you with experienced talc lawyers and medical specialists, assist you in navigating insurance and VA benefits and provide ongoing support to you and your family.

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Tips for Avoiding Asbestos in Makeup

You can’t see or smell asbestos in makeup, but you can take steps to lower the risk. Talc is the main source of contamination, so avoiding it is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

Top 4 Tips for Avoiding Asbestos-Contaminated Makeup

1. Avoid brands with past contamination: Some products from Claire’s, Justice, City Color and other brands have tested positive for asbestos. If a company has had problems before, its other products may still carry the same risk.
2. Choose talc-free makeup: Asbestos can contaminate talc during mining. Look for powders, blushes and eyeshadows labeled as “talc-free.” Using these products reduces the chance of exposure.
3. Check the ingredient list: Asbestos won’t appear on labels, but talc will. Avoid talc-based products unless the brand offers independent, batch-level testing to confirm the talc is asbestos-free.
4. Replace talc-based products when unsure: The only way to confirm if a product contains asbestos is with lab testing. If that isn’t possible, switching to a talc-free option is a safer and more practical choice.

There is no federal rule, yet, that requires asbestos testing in cosmetics, so it’s up to consumers to take precautions. Knowing which ingredients to watch for and which brands have faced recalls can help reduce your risk.

Common Questions About Asbestos in Makeup

What does asbestos-free actually mean?

In the U.S., a product can legally be labeled “asbestos-free” even if it contains up to 1% asbestos. This means small amounts, with possibly hundreds or thousands of asbestos fibers, can still be found in consumer goods, including makeup. While this might sound small, even low-level asbestos exposure can be dangerous over time.

Asbestos in cosmetics falls into a regulatory gray area. There’s currently no federal law that requires manufacturers to ensure talc is asbestos-free. The FDA can only act if there’s clear scientific proof that a product is harmful during normal use. This is difficult to show because asbestos-related diseases take a long time to develop, known as a long latency period.

Is talc-free makeup guaranteed to be asbestos-free?

Not necessarily. Choosing talc-free makeup lowers the risk of asbestos exposure. But contamination can still happen. This can happen if products are made close to asbestos or if they have ingredients from contaminated sources. Some advocacy groups suggest looking for brands that offer independent lab testing. This testing confirms their products are free from asbestos.

Is children’s makeup still sold with talc today?

Talc remains an ingredient in some children’s makeup products today. No federal law prohibits its use. While some products  faced recalls over asbestos-contaminated talc, there are also no legal requirements for brands to test for asbestos contamination. And brands recalled in 2019 later reappeared on the market with different names or packaging. The safest option for parents is to choose talc-free makeup to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.

Are mineral makeup products safe from asbestos contamination?

Mineral makeup products aren’t necessarily asbestos contamination free. Talc in makeup has the most documented asbestos-contamination history. But other minerals commonly found in mineral-based makeup, including mica, silica, kaolin, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, have documented geological co-occurrence with asbestos. The mining and processing of any of these minerals could potentially introduce contamination. Consumers can look for  brands that publish independent batch-level testing results for all mineral ingredients.

Which makeup ingredients should I avoid to reduce asbestos exposure?

Talc is the ingredient most closely linked to asbestos contamination in cosmetics. It appears on labels as talc, talcum powder or hydrous magnesium silicate. Avoiding products with any of these ingredients reduces your risk.

Other mineral ingredients such as mica and silica can also be found near asbestos in the earth, though they lack talc’s documented contamination history in consumer products.Some advocacy groups also recommend looking for brands that publish independent, batch-level testing results to confirm their products are asbestos-free.

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