Is Your Child's Halloween Makeup Toxic?

Senator Charles Schumer wants you to rethink Halloween makeup. In a recent press conference the senator wanted against the toxic chemicals found in the holiday-focused makeup, stating:

“These toxic ingredients can make a child sick, but they’re never listed on the package,” he continued on to say, “parents are totally clueless as to what they’re putting on their child’s face. If they see it on the shelf they think it’s safe, but it’s not.”

Schumer warns specifically against purchasing Halloween cosmetics that are made in China, which often contain toxins like lead, cobalt, nickel and chromium— all of which can lead to health issues. He is also pressing the FDA to heighten their regulation of novelty cosmetics to prevent cosmetics laden with toxins from passing regulation standards. In his letter to the agency, he urged them to construct rigid guidelines to “unmask” the ingredients that are being used.

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While Canada and China have prohibited the use of lead in cosmetics products, the U.S. still lags behind. During the press conference the senator held up palettes by popular brands such as Wet N’ Wild, Rubies Costume Company and Fun World as examples of potentially dangerous products, leading consumers to believe that toxic chemicals are not limited to cheaper, value brands sold in discount stores, but also those sold in mass markets.

The advocacy group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics recently revealed that six of the ten face paints that they tested contained lead, nickel, cobalt and/or chromium.