Do face and eye cosmetics contain dangerous levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium?

What's actually in it

Face powders, foundations, eyeshadows, and eyeliners get their colors from mineral pigments. These pigments can contain trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic, mercury, and cobalt. Some metals are added on purpose as colorants. Others sneak in as contaminants from the raw materials or manufacturing process.

You apply these products directly to thin, sensitive skin around your eyes and face. Some gets absorbed through your skin. Some you accidentally inhale as loose powder. And some transfers to your mouth when you eat or lick your lips.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Toxics tested face and eye cosmetics from seven countries for seven different metals. The researchers measured concentrations and then calculated the health risk for people who use these products daily.

Every product category contained detectable levels of metals. Lead and chromium showed up most often. Some products had concentrations that pushed past recommended safety thresholds, especially when the researchers factored in daily, long-term use.

The risk wasn't the same across all products. Eye cosmetics like eyeshadow and eyeliner tended to have higher metal levels than face products. That's concerning because the skin around your eyes is thinner and absorbs chemicals more easily.

Lead is especially worrying. There's no safe level of lead exposure, according to health agencies. Even tiny amounts that build up over years of daily use can affect your nervous system. Cadmium accumulates in your kidneys and can take decades to clear from your body.

Pricier brands weren't always cleaner. The metal content depended more on the specific pigments used than on the brand name or country of origin. If you wear face or eye makeup daily, look for brands that publish third-party heavy metal testing results. Mineral-free or iron-oxide-based formulas tend to have lower contamination.