FDA Says It Found Asbestos In Makeup At Claire's

March 11, 2019

From NPR News:

U.S. regulators say several makeup products from Claire's stores tested positive for asbestos, a mineral that has been linked to deadly cancers.

The Food and Drug Administration tested makeup from Claire's and the retailer Justice, both of which market their products to young girls and teens. In a statement Tuesday, the agency reported that it found that three product samples from Claire's and one from Justice contained the substance, and it released a safety alert about the products.

Claire's says that "out of an abundance of caution," it has removed the three products -- eye shadows, compact powder and contour powder -- from stores and is "also removing any remaining talc based cosmetic products." Talc is a substance that sometimes contains asbestos and has been linked to lung cancer in miners.

But Claire's says its "products are safe" and disputes the test results, saying they "show significant errors." The retailer says the tests "have mischaracterized fibers in the products as asbestos."

Claire's, which sells jewelry and accessories and pierces ears, is a common sight at shopping malls, with more than 2,400 locations in North America and Europe as of last August.

For more, visit NPR.