Is There Lead In Face Paint?

You may have seen the recent, highly publicized report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics claims that there is lead in face paints. And yes, they tested professional makeup products like I and other responsible face painters use. And they found more lead than would be allowed in food. This is true. In fact, they found levels as high as 0.65 ppm of lead when only 0.10 ppm is allowed in candy. You know, the candy your kids are devouring while if they ingest any face paint it's only a trace amount from their lips. In fact, the FDA has no MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) on lead in cosmetics because they recognize it's not a safety issue.

However, let's say you really want to know that the face paint on your kids is totally edible. It might comfort you to know that these products are highly pigmented professional makeup. They're not applied neat (undiluted). They are water based and mixed with water - how much water depends on the makeup brand. I am going to ignore the highest results - Alex face paints - because they're garbage - a toy that is impossible to use. No professional face painter is using them. The next highest is Snazaroo, at 0.56 ppm lead. I dilute Snazaroo at least 6 to 1 with water when using it - thus putting the product as applied to skin under the lead levels allowed in food. Even more, it's applied very thin since it is so heavily pigmented. Any amount eaten is minimal.

The product with the high chromium level is not used by any face painters I know. The nickel level of Snazaroo - 5.5ppm (about 1ppm diluted) is not significant. My research found that 40ppm nickel is the lowest content ever shown to cause an allergy.

These are materials in our environment. Yes, they'll end up in makeup. In this case, in levels that (as the makeup is used) are lower than those allowed in our food. This is not a real issue. This is a group with an agenda; and lots of sensationalist news agencies looking for a good story of danger being in the most unexpected place that'll boost ratings this Halloween. Have fun with face paint (just don't use acrylic/craft paints even if labeled "non toxic" and run from anyone who does! THOSE cause major allergies.) and I hope to see some of y'all out there :)

- Mark (who uses mainly Kryolan Aqua Color and Mehron Paradise - some of the highest quality and most respected theatrical water based makeup that for whatever reason wasn't included in these test results while no-name Chinese products were... I wonder why?)