Does your mascara contain high levels of mercury?

Find out what's really in your cosmetics...

Are you unwittingly buying toxic make-up? Now, you can check your pile of eyeliners, shadows, blushers and mascara against the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety database.

According to the site: ‘Mercury compounds are readily absorbed through the skin on topical application and tend to accumulate in the body. They may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, or neurotoxic manifestations.'

Mercury is considered particularly toxic to the developing brain during pregnancy, infancy and childhood. The use of mercury compounds is banned in all cosmetics except those used around the eyes, where levels are limited to 65 parts per million (ppm).

In EWG's complex hazard rating system, you can score your beauty products for their hazardous potential.

One reason products may rate a high hazard score in the EWG database is that they contain a chemical that is thought to be cancer-causing or endocrine-disrupting.

Sean Gray, EWG senior analyst says: ‘We hope that when people become outraged about the chemicals in their personal care products that they will take action. Nearly 90% of the ingredients used in cosmetics have not been studied for safety in cosmetics.'

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