A new study shows that beauty cosmetics may not be as safe as you think.

A Toronto-based environmental group has tested dozens of cosmetics products commonly used by Canadians and found virtually all of them were contaminated with heavy metals.

Environmental Defence released a study Monday that shows Canadian consumers can’t assume their cosmetics products are safe, even if they read lists of ingredients carefully.

“Canadians deserve to know what is in their cosmetics,” said Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence.

“Given the choice, we think most consumers would not put arsenic or lead on their lips and faces.”

No kidding!  Six women were asked to name five products they use on a daily basis.  Items tested included foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, eyeliners, eyeshadow, lipstick and lip gloss.

Researchers then tested these products as well as others in a lab for the presence of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, beryllium, selenium, thallium and nickel.

Lead was detected in 96% of the products, arsenic in 20% and cadmium in 51%.

“The concern is not just that heavy metals are in our makeup, but exposure to these toxins through the products we apply to our skin, in the air we breathe and in our water and food supply can all add up and accumulate in your body,” Mr. Smith said.

Heavy metals can build up in the body over time, the study notes, and are linked to a variety of health problems, from headaches to serious disorders and even cancer.

Naturally though, some metals can show up in makeup unintentionally. But all these heavy metals, except for nickel, are banned from being intentionally added to cosmetics in Canada because of negative health effects.

The highest levels of arsenic (70 parts per million), cadmium (3 ppm), and lead (110 ppm) were all found in lip glosses, which are easily ingested because they are worn on the lips.

Canadians spend an estimated $5.3-billion per year on cosmetics, according to Health Canada, and the average Canadian woman uses 12 products, containing a total of 168 unique ingredients, every day.

This new research will hopefully prompt the federal government to strengthen its regulations on cosmetics, so that manufacturers are required to disclose all intentional ingredients.

Visit www.environmentaldefence.ca  or www.safecosmetics.org for more information.