Determination of heavy metals in eyeshadows from China

Personal care products and cosmetics are used daily by many people, causing local exposure to certain chemical substances through the application directly inside the oral cavity, on the skin, lips, eyes, and mucosa. Eyeshadows are among the most commonly used types of cosmetics. According to scientific reports, they may contain heavy metals, especially in non-original products. The exposure to said heavy metals may cause local skin irritation, sensitization, and allergy. Due to the fact that they are applied around the eyes, where the skin is relatively thin, it is likely that heavy metals can get into the bloodstream which may pose a threat to consumers’ health. In the described research, the analysis of eyeshadows from two palettes of generic alternatives to the original eyeshadows was presented. The determination of Zn, Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb was conducted using atomic absorption spectrometry. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, it was shown that the content of some heavy metals in generic eyeshadows exceeds the acceptable standards.