Should You Use Talc-Free Makeup? 

Let's talk talc. Say that five times fast! Talc is the ingredient that caused me to toss half of my make up stash in the trash. Talc is a common ingredient across many products in the makeup and personal care product industry; in fact, it's often the first ingredient listed! Talc may sound familiar to you as it was at the center of the multibillion dollar Jonson & Johnson lawsuit. To summarize, many of the plaintiffs claimed that the talc used in Johnson & Johnson baby powder was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. And that this exposure to asbestos from using the product led to the development of gynecologic and lung cancers. As of 2020, talc has been replaced with cornstarch in Johnson & Johnson baby powder (commissions earned). For more information on the case, check out this New York Times article. Now, back to makeup. 

The problem.

Talc is a common ingredient in makeup and personal care products, particularly blush, bronzer, eyeshadow and face and body powders. Talc is a mineral that's naturally found in the earth, mined and ground before it makes way into the products in your vanity. Talc is used in these products, because it absorbs moisture, prevents caking and promotes smooth application - sounds desirable, right? The problem is that in its natural state, talc is often found alongside cancer causing asbestos. So much so, that truly separating the two could be impossible and one might assume that Talc is contaminated with asbestos. Talc remains widespread in the makeup market. There has been mention to avoid using talc that is  contaminated with asbestos - but again, not only could this be impossible, but it is also not enforced. The CDC has found asbestos to be widespread during ongoing testing of makeup products. 

The solution.

While the research to establish a link between Talc and cancer has been inconclusive, Asbestos IS a cancer causing agent. It seems that Talc and Asbestos are almost synonymous - while there has been talk and even perhaps effort to separate Talc from Asbestos, where one is you can assume to find the other based on the results of product testing. Yes, the amount of Talc/Asbestos used in makeup is fractional; but all of our behaviors add up, potentially increasing our risk of developing cancer. Why advocate to have talc removed from products for our babies, and not do the same for ourselves? We may not be able to control all of the ingredients in the products on the market, but we can control the products we buy and use. It seems to me that the solution is simple - AVOID TALC. If talc-containing products can't be assumed free of asbestos, then just use products that don't contain talc. They do exist! I like The Honest Company and Milk Makeup products (commissions earned), but you can also check out this article on Bustle for more suggestions of Talc-free makeup brands. 

Gray area.

As with many things in life, there is potential gray area in the talc/asbestos debate. Perhaps you feel any potential risk from using talc containing makeup and personal products is too low, not worth altering behavior. Maybe you developed a makeup routine with products you love - some may contain talc, but you're not willing to change your routine. Finding new products can be costly and time consuming, and there is a risk of reacting to new ingredients. The choice to use or avoid talc containing products has to be a personal one that takes into account your unique situation including your health status and medical conditions for which you may be at heightened risk. Am I aware of all of the potentially harmful ingredients in products I use? Certainly not. Nor am I some clean product crusader. I just know that when I look back on my life, I want to know that I did my best to decrease my risk of a negative health outcome based on the information I had. When you know better, you do better. For me, I'm choosing to make the switch to using Talc-free makeup and personal care products. For more on “clean” makeup, check out this Allure article.

Conclusion

Should you use talc-free makeup? I think so. The ingredient talc is common in may products across the makeup and personal care product industry to absorb oil and for a smooth finish. Talc is likely to be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. While the amount of talc/asbestos used in makeup products is fractional and the increased risk of a negative outcome likely very low, why take a chance? Make the switch and use talc-free makeup products to eliminate any potential link between talc/asbestos and a negative health outcome. Who doesn't love a reason to get new makeup?!

Thoughts? Will you eliminate talc from your vanity? Or do you think the risk is so low or even nonexistent that this is all just a big useless fuss?

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