ST. LOUIS – They're some of the most popular toys on the shelf: cosmetics for kids.
Innocent looking lipsticks and eye shadow, marketed to children to put on and play with.
But are these products safe?
Kay Quinn and the I-Team found allegations of toxic metals and even cancer-causers being found in some kid’s makeup.
So, they decided to put some of the kits to the test.
It's no coincidence Callan Sherman is wearing a big silver star on her mint green shirt. When she entered the world eight years ago, a star was definitely born.
"She loves playing pretend,” her mother Jamie Sherman said. “She loves singing and dancing, she'll even model different kids on TV shows."
Callan's been performing in local theatre productions since she was 4-years-old and when she's not on stage, she often spends hours with her friends playing with all kinds of makeup.
But while it looks harmless on the surface, there can be a dark side to the glittery fun.
That's because from eye shadow to lip gloss, when it comes to regular cosmetics, the FDA doesn't require beauty companies to safety test what they sell before they sell it.
The problem?
The I-Team discovered that also includes products marketed to kids. Children love to imitate, so it's no wonder that kid's makeup is a growth industry.
But at what cost?
Take 3-year-old Lydia Cravens. After using a kid’s cosmetics kit, this Georgetown, Illinois girl broke out in severe hives, blisters and swelling so bad she was admitted to the hospital.
"Children with sensitive skin have to be careful,” Dr. Elaine Siegfried, a pediatric dermatologist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, said.
Dr. Siegfried said compared to adults, toxins or allergens can have a much stronger impact on kids.
“The take-home message is children aren't small adults,” she said.
So, 5 On Your Side decided to take a look at what's in some ‘play makeup.’
First, we bought three different kits and took them to a local environmental lab to have them checked out for toxic metals like lead, arsenic and others.
We'll tell you the results in a moment. But first? A controversy.
"I ended up sitting on the ground,” Kristi Warner, a Rhode Island mother, said. “Just trying to wrap my head around how something like that could end up in our home."
Last December, Warner became curious about her daughter's cosmetics set. So, Warner, who also works for a law firm, had them tested and found toxic asbestos known to cause lung cancer. Claire’s, which sold the items, pulled them from their shelves, but now disputes Warner's lab results.
And just this year the Justice store chain recalled eight “Just Shine” makeup products. The reason? Once again, asbestos.
So, what did our testing find?
"Most of the time, everything was very low amounts," said Dr. Siegfried.
For two out of the three makeup kits, we found nothing.
But in the Click N' Play Kid's Real Cosmetics set, two heavy metals were detected in small amounts: Chromium in the pink and purple eyeshadows, and Cobalt in the blush.
In high enough amounts, both can cause an allergic reaction where the skin swells and reddens. In fact, Dr. Siegfried said when it comes to cosmetics, "it's much more common to have a contact dermatitis or an allergic reaction.”
Like the one Lydia Cravens had. She’s since recovered.
We contacted the manufacturer of the Click N’ Play set to tell them about our test results.
A representative from Homeco LLC told 5 On Your Side they take product safety very seriously and to that end, they regularly test the makeup they sell for any possible issues.
There was one other test we did on our products: Asbestos.
We're happy to report we found none in any of the toy cosmetics we tested.
Still, Callan's mom Jamie thinks the FDA is making a big mistake by not requiring more research and testing of cosmetics.
“They're pink, they're colorful, they have glitter on them,” said Jamie. “You would think they would be safe for kids to use."
If you’re concerned about skin reactions from cosmetics and personal care products, here are some ingredients to avoid:
- Nickel, which is a common cause of dermatitis.
- Preservatives, including formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like DMDM.
- Fragrance. If you see that word on a label, keep in mind, the product could include any one of dozens of chemicals, and by law, none of them need to be listed.
Here’s a link to the FDA’s web page on heavy metals and cosmetics:
Additional information:
Society for Pediatric Dermatology
National Eczema Association
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
