Heavy Metal Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner! Any plans for face painting? Maybe you're planning to be a cat or a Wizard of Oz munchkin? Halloween aside, aren't kids frequently getting their faces painted? Lots to think about!

I just found this article, Pretty Scary: Heavy Metals in Face Paints. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did an independent study sampling 10 random children's face paints.

A new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Pretty Scary," reveals that some children’s face paints contain lead, a neurotoxin, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause lifelong skin sensitization and contact dermatitis.

Creepier yet, these metals were not listed on the products' ingredient labels. Some products even bore misleading claims (like "hypoallergenic" and “FDA compliant”), making it tough for parents to find safe face paints.

So, what can you do to avoid all this?

• Choose costumes that don't require face paint or masks (which may also contain toxic chemicals and impair vision and breathing).
• Make your own face paint with food-grade ingredients. 
• If you do use face paint, keep it away from kids’ mouths and hands so they don't ingest it.

You can make non-toxic face paint from natural food coloring or just food itself. You can use ingredients like cocoa butter, strawberries, blackberries, beets, avocado, blueberries, spirulina, chocolate, squid ink and powdered sugar. The cool thing is, making up your own face paint would be fun for you and your child and could become a favorite Halloween tradition. And think how proud you'll be when you tell your friends you made your own face paint!

Be SAFE this Halloween!