Are cosmetics and eye makeup safe to use daily?
Caution is advised. Peer-reviewed research indicates that face and eye cosmetics can contain heavy metals that pose potential health risks with daily use.
What's actually in it
Many cosmetics and eye makeup products contain heavy metals. These are not ingredients you want to put on your skin every day. When you use these products, you risk absorbing these metals into your body. This is a concern because some of these metals are linked to serious health issues, especially for pregnant people and developing infants.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Toxics analyzed face and eye cosmetics across 7 countries and found that they contain 7 different heavy metals. The study highlights that these products present probabilistic health risks to users.
The danger of metal exposure is well-documented in other peer-reviewed research. A 2026 study in the J Korean Med Sci linked heavy metal exposure during early pregnancy to changes in fetal growth. Furthermore, a 2026 study in Early Hum Dev found that lead exposure in the womb can impact the development of the nervous system in premature infants.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
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