Metals in Makeup Using ICPAES.  Sarah Furrer and Mallory McAfee.  2006.

The United States Food and Drug Administration does not subject cosmetics marketed and sold in the United States to pre-market approval with the exception of color additives(2). A study of five metals; arsenic, lead, chromium, titanium, and nickel, was preformed on three eye shadow brands to determine if they were present in unsafe levels. The brands of eye shadow, Prestige, Maybelline, and Wet ‘n’ Wild, were chosen based upon price and color. Metal detection was performed using ICP-AES. Samples were prepared using 0.5 g of eye shadow digested in 5mL of both concentrated HCI and HNO₃. Each brand was prepared in triplicate. After digestion at 60°C and subsequent cooling, the samples were decanted from the solid residue and diluted to 50mL with 2% HNO₃ and filtered into amber bottles. The results from this experiment show that none of the sought after metals were detected at unsafe levels. Arsenic was not present in any of the samples, and 23.90ug/case chromium was found in only the Prestige sample. Lead was found in all three of the samples; however none of them exceeded 30ug/case. While this was not at a toxic level, it should still be noted due to the many shortcomings linked to lead absorption into the body. Nickel and titanium were found at varying concentrations in all of the samples with Prestige containing the most at 166.90ug/case and 681.30ug/case respectively. Primary concerns from the nickel and titanium are allergic reactions and skin sensitization over time, each being possible from the levels found in Prestige.