Today, we are going to talk about talc. Yeah, the ingredient that’s responsible for all those commercials you see for civil lawsuits against baby powder. *That* talc. You can also call it talcum powder or “French chalk” which sounds both more exotic and less appealing at the same time. Interesting.
Talc is a whitish gray mineral substance found in nature. It’s supposedly a “powdered hydrous magnesium silicate”. Doesn’t it sound so scientific? If you want to break it down into its individual parts, it contains magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. It may sometimes also include small amounts of aluminum silicate. Even more science-y sounding!
The thing is, talc can often also naturally be found with asbestos which has caused a lot of concern about its use in cosmetics and body care. However, cosmetic companies should be using talc that has been tested for asbestos. As a result, talc is generally regarded as safe for use by the FDA.
You can find talc in a multitude of products including lotion, feminine hygiene products, eyeshadow, foundation, lipstick (basically ALL the makeup), deodorant, and MORE.
One of the uses of talc is to absorb moisture and oil (hello deodorant!). It can also control shine which is important for those with that oily skin look. Yes, yes, please pass the powder so I can touch up my T-zone! A bonus for the facial powders? It’s supposed to be an anti-caking agent. Why can’t every ingredient prevent caking?!
Talc is also known for being able to improve the feel of a product by softening and smoothing it. Think lotion. Think of the velvety texture it has. Then think about seeing if talc contributed to that. There’s a possibility it did!
It can also be added to makeup to help with creating a more opaque color. If a brand doesn’t want a sheer product, they may add French chalk (I had to say it at least one more time in this post) to give it a more solid coloring.
Of course, there IS the whole pesky issue of cancer and mesothelioma surrounding talc due to possible asbestos contamination. Despite the tests to maintain talc purity, if you are concerned about the potential hazard, here are some tips:
Avoid use in the pelvic area. All those civil lawsuits against baby powder are citing a link between talc and its possible cause of ovarian and endometrial cancer. This of course, would prevent any use of feminine hygiene products containing talcum powder.
Second, the whole mesothelioma thing and a messed up respiratory tract that can lead to wicked bad coughing and difficult breathing. Some believe that the asbestos particles from mining talc and/or inhaling cosmetic ingredients containing talc can lead to these problems. If this is a concern for you, avoid loose powders containing talcum.
I’ve seen talc being sold for less than five dollars for 2 pounds of the stuff. It’s a highly affordable ingredient… and most powder products are.
This concludes another round of “Learn That Cosmetic Ingredient!” I’m clearly NOT an expert, but hey, I’d like to think I’ve helped everyone gain some knowledge today!
Cosmetics that have Talc as an ingredient:
Urban Decay – Eyeshadow (Relish)
