Make-up brands found to contain toxic metals

A number of international cosmetic brands' products were found to contain toxic heavy metals, Britain's Daily Mail reported Tuesday, based on test results recently published by eMaxHealth, a Canadian health science website.

Toxins including arsenic, cadmium, lead, beryllium, nickel, selenium and thallium were found present in all 49 of the tested make-up products, according to the health site.

Clinique Stay True makeup (Stay Ivory) contained arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel, lead and thallium, while Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus eye liner contained beryllium, cadmium, nickel and lead, said the report.

The popular mascara, L'Oreal Bare Naturale, was shown to include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, nickel, lead and thallium in its formula.

However, none of the heavy metals were labelled on packaging.

Researchers say the toxins can be absorbed by the skin and spark worrying health problems such as headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, hair loss, hormone disruption, nervous disorders and lung damage.