Lead to Suffer for Beauty
Across time with the use of cosmetics, physical regiments and body augmentation humans have withstood pain and suffering to enhance beauty. Toxic materials which can cause suffering and death have been in use since ancient times.
Per the American Chemical Society, scientist analyzed 52 samples of Ancient Egyptian make-up1 taken from containers found in pyramids. The results demonstrated powdered mixes of malachite (a green mineral), galena (a gray lead ore), cerussite (a white carbonate of lead), and small amounts of the lead compounds laurionite and phosgenite, blended with oil or fat to create eye paint.2
Figure 1: Tutankhamun Eye of Horus Pendant3
Science has shown that lead exposure can result in "a reduced sensitivity of rod photo receptors, blurred vision and irritated eyes as well as an increased susceptibility to cataract and optic neuritis.”4 However, in a recent study, researchers found that exposure to lead increased the production of nitric oxide by up to 240 per cent in cultured human skin cells.5 Nitric oxide is an immune system booster and promotes the fighting of infection.6 It can be inferred that the "magical" eye makeup used by both men and women in ancient times served as protection from eye infections (figure 1). The eye of Horus, seen as a symbol of goodness and health is depicted above, accentuated in dark pigments.
Figure 2: A section of the “Darnley Portrait” of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603).7
Many paintings of Queen Elizabeth I (figure 2), depict the "Mask of Youth," an extended front hairline and a face accentuated with toxic white paints and powders along with red lips. Later in 18th Century Europe during the 'Age of Enlightenment," men and women poisoned themselves as they fashionably wore red and white lead make-up and powder.8 The lead and other deadly substances in cosmetics caused troubling skin reactions and baldness. For many men and women fashion trends contributed to their illness and death.9
More recently the American Food and Drug Administration has issued a guidance for industry on lead in cosmetics and externally applied cosmetics. The maximum amount of lead allowed in cosmetic lip products to 10 parts per million.10 When pondering the question: "Is there lead in lipstick?" The FDA states:
Lead is an unintended contaminant or impurity that can be present at very low levels in some color additives and in other common ingredients, such as water, that are used to produce cosmetics. FDA recently conducted a test of the lead levels of specific lipsticks. Findings showed that the levels of lead found in these lipstick samples were extremely low, and FDA does not believe that any of the products tested pose a safety concern.11
While reading about the lead in cosmetics I was left with more questions about cosmetic safety than when I started. In a world so filled with car exhaust, aging and corrosive water pipes, questionable ingredients even our natural foods…. I am not so sure everyday use of make up is the right choice for me.
BELTRE We make products for delicate nature loving skin!
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
1 American Chemical Society "Ancient Egyptian Cosmetics: "Magical" Makeup may have been medicine for eye disease" Jan. 11, 2010 https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2010/january/ancient-egyptian-cosmetics.html
2 "Personal Hygiene and Cosmetics." http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/cosmetics.htm
3 Tutankhamun Eye of Horus pendant https://traveltoeat.com/horus-the-falcon-british-museum-london/
4 "How does lead exposure affect our eyes?" LEAD Action News vol 10 no 3, June 2010, ISSN 1324-6011 http://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n3/lanv10n3-8.html
5 Tapsoba I, Arbault S, Walter P, Amatore C. Finding out Egyptian Gods’ secret using analytical chemistry: biomedical properties of Egyptian black makeup revealed by amperometry at single cells. Anat. Chem. 2010;82(2):457-460.
6 See note 5.
7 Unknown continental artist. The "Darnley Portrait" of Elizabeth I of England, Circa 1575. Oil on panel, National Portrait Gallery 2082 (London).
8 Rosemary Swinfield, ‘Hair and Wigs for the Stage’, A and C Black Ltd, 1999. p 97.
9 Patsy Baker, ‘Wigs and Make-up for Theatre, Television and Film’, Focal Press, 1993. p.210.
10 ELECTRONIC CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. Title 21: Food and Drugs. PART 73—LISTING OF COLOR ADDITIVES EXEMPT FROM CERTIFICATION. Subpart A—Foods Jan 12, 2017. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=c2a11d5399d4112e9293bf2a9b272d62&mc=true&node=se21.1.73_1575&rgn=div8
11 FDA Basics. "Is there lead in lipstick" 12/21/2016. http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194557.htm
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
“Determination of total lead in lipstick” July-August 2009. Journal of Cosmetic Science.
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