Talc in Cosmetics—Description, Safety, and Rising Consumer Demands 

Is talc safe in cosmetics? From baby powder to blush, all of them contain talc. It is a highly prevalent formulation component of health and beauty products on the market for its numerous utilitarian attributes. 

Talc absorbs moisture, makes facial makeup opaque, prevents caking, improves the texture of products, and is low-cost to formulate with. 

However, through its long-standing use, concerns have been widespread since the 1970s due to potential contamination with asbestos, a harmful ingredient to human health. 

For the past decade, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has faced tens of thousands of mounting lawsuits relating to its talc-based baby powder as alleged to be cancer-causing. 

Today, consumers are increasingly fearing the presence of talc in cosmetic and personal care products and demanding talc-free formulations on the market. 

The questions left for all parties involved, the scientific and medical communities, the cosmetic industry, and consumers are: Does talc have deleterious health effects? Should we ban it? Should new beauty entrepreneurs consider talc-free products?

Before answering these pressing questions, let’s describe talc and asbestos to understand the origin of the problem. 

What is Talc? 

Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula Mg₃Si₄O₁₀. It is a naturally occurring earth mineral mined from different deposits around the world. Known as the softest mineral on earth, its name originates from the Arabic word “talq” which means “pure”. 

Popularly, talc is synonymous with talcum powder. The difference though is that talcum powder is finely grounded talc. Due to its potent absorbent properties, talcum powder helps to keep the skin dry and prevents rashes and chafing. It has various applications in consumer products, including cosmetics, baby care, and beauty products.  

What Is Asbestos? What Are The Warnings About Talc?

The issue of the potential health risk occurs when there is possible contamination with another mineral, asbestos.

Talc and asbestos often occur in frequent proximity to each other in the mines. As a result, talc may be unintentionally contaminated with asbestos during the mining process. Although a naturally occurring material, asbestos can cause cancer in people. It causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other illnesses.

So, con you find asbestos-contaminated talc in cosmetic, beauty, and personal care products? 

The first alarm against asbestos-contaminated talc in personal care was first linked to J&J’s talcum powder. According to Reuters, trace amounts of asbestos detected in J&J’s talcum powder happened in 1957-1958. 

At that time, the talc source was an Italian supplier. Then until the early 2000s, Reuters alleges that J&J’s internal reports continued to show the presence of asbestos in its iconic product.

According to the FDA, the hypothesis that cosmetic-grade talc causes cancer is not yet scientifically proved. However, the potential adulteration of talc by asbestos is high. The FDA advises that the onus on is the manufacturer. It should ensure the careful inspection of mining sites. The ore (naturally occurring solid mineral) must be appropriately investigated. And the obtained talc properly tested.

Today, the FDA continues to monitor any potential health risks associated with talc and tested more than fifty cosmetic and personal care products in 2022. The examined goods had no asbestos, according to the results. 

Is Talc Safe to Use in Cosmetics? 

Concerns over the safety of talc in personal care products have emerged as a result of the ongoing lawsuits against J&J as it relates to its baby powder. Tens of thousands of women in the United States have claimed that Johnson’s talcum powder is the cause of their ovarian cancer. 

Since the 1960s, scientific studies have investigated a possible link between the use of asbestos-free talc powder in the genital area and the incidence of ovarian cancer.  However, results have not been conclusive to assert if any such causative relationship exists.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are two types of studies that can evaluate the health impact of talc on ovarian cancer: lab studies and studies in people. 

Lab studies involve exposing animals such as rats, mice, and hamsters to a substance in large doses and monitoring the development of tumors or other health complications. 

By contrast, in studies on people, the cancer risk is evaluated by comparing a group of people who recall being exposed to the substance versus those who have not been exposed to the substance.

In lab studies, some results show tumor formation, but others do not. However, some studies in people show a slight increase in cancer risk, while others report no increase. 

Parallelly, several studies have researched the association between talcum body powder and the increased risk of ovarian cancer in African American women. Results show that the use of body powder is more prevalent in African American women. However, the incidence of ovarian cancer is higher more among Hispanic women in the United States. 

As it stands, the ovarian cancer/talc link is unclear. Until sound scientific evidence is brought forward, talc is recognised to be safe when we ingest or apply it topically.

However, as with many powdered substances, the inhalation of talc is harmful. Incidents range from sneezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, to severe difficulty in breathing, respiratory failure, and even death. 

Should You Use Talc-Free Beauty Products?

The FDA has ongoing research on the topic, and until definitive results are available, talc will remain a hanging debate. At the moment, though, talc is classified as a safe ingredient for use in beauty products.

The beauty industry is an ever-evolving industry. To build a successful product line, beauty entrepreneurs should adapt to changes quickly to remain competitive. With current consumer trends such as clean beauty—cosmetic products made without harmful ingredients—consumers are increasingly mindful of the ingredients list. 

Consumers seek to avoid ingredients tainted with a bad rep in the press. Consequently, beauty entrepreneurs may have to be innovative and propose talc-free products. Luckily, this is not too far-fetched as there are options available for talc in cosmetic formulations. 

For instance, cornstarch, kaolin clay, arrowroot powder, zinc oxide, tapioca flour, and baking soda are all effective replacements for talc in beauty product formulations. 

Many brands on the market have already made the switch to some of these alternatives to appease consumers’ demands. 

Conclusion – Is Talc Safe in Cosmetics?

Talc has brought up controversies in the press and the marketplace. This is leading beauty companies to make talc-free products. 

As such, upcoming and existing beauty entrepreneurs should strongly consider making talc-free beauty products to stay ahead of the curve. 

For more tips on a successful beauty line, stay connected with Freelance Formulations, your global beauty product development partner for beauty entrepreneurs. 

About the Author

Selena Orango Adewinogo is a content strategist at Freelance Formulations, an established product development company for beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products in Bartow, Florida. She holds a master’s degree in Chemistry and is passionate about the cosmetic industry. Keep up with her content on the Freelance Formulation’s blog and LinkedIn.

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