Halloween Horrors: Tales from the Cosmetologist

Halloween terror should be other-worldly: witches, warlocks, zombies and other costumed creatures of the night. Don't unleash real terrors with the makeup and masks your kids use to get into the ghostly spirit of the occasion!

Makeup Madness

As with regular makeup and personal care products, the Halloween makeup found in conventional drug stores -- white, green, black cream makeup, multi-colored makeup crayons, and fake blood -- contain a number of suspect ingredients. While our research turned up a number labeled "non-toxic," "safe," and "allergenic," many Halloween makeup products we checked contain ingredients such as these listed here that may add to the body's exposure burden and contribute to long-term health effects such as cancer or endocrine disruption:

1. TEA (triethanolamine): On its website, the FDA warns that TEA may contain DEA (diethanolamine). In 1998, the National Toxicology Program completed a study that found an association between the topical application of DEA and certain DEA-related ingredients and cancer in laboratory animals. The FDA further reported in 1999, based on animal studies, that DEA itself may be carcinogenic.
2. Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben): Parabens are preservatives that are widely used in cosmetics. There is preliminary evidence that parabens act like estrogens and that they could disrupt normal hormone functions as a result.
3. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): BHA is a preservative and antioxidant that is listed as a probable carcinogen in the U.S. National Toxicology Program's 9th Report on Cancer. BHA is also a suspected hormone disruptor, and may act like estrogens in the body.
4. Phthalates: Phthalates and their by-products are widespread contaminants of women's bodies because of their presence in personal care products such as nail polish and synthetic fragrances. Phthalates can disrupt boys' normal reproductive development and may be linked to premature puberty in girls. Male laboratory animals exposed to phthalates in the womb have high rates of abnormal reproductive and sexual development.
5. Formaldehyde: A preservative commonly found in nail polishes, eye shadows, mascaras, and other cosmetics. Formaldehyde is listed as a probable carcinogen in the U.S. National Toxicology Program's 9th Report on Cancer.

Makeup Alternatives

A few safety-minded companies or some home cooking will allow you to say "Yes!" to scariness and "No!" to scary makeup. Aveda, Real Purity, Logona, and Sante Kosmetics produce makeup products that can make you look terrifying without risking your health. You can find Aveda at their own retail outlets and at makeup stores, salons, and spas. The other products may be found at natural supermarkets and health food stores, or online at www.naturalbeautysolutions.net. Sante Kosmetics also produce a safe line of nail polish. You also can find a listing of phthalate-free nail polishes in "Drop Dead Gorgeous?" on the Green Guide website.

The Internet and craft magazines offer many homemade Halloween makeup recipes: blood, bruises, face makeup, etc. These tend to use kitchen and bathroom staples such as corn starch, syrup, shortening, cold cream, and food coloring. Visit, for example, www.make-stuff.com/hollidays/monster.html, or follow the abundant links to Halloween Makeup (and other Halloween fun) found at About.com.

Unmasked: The Horror of Vinyl

Many Halloween costumes and masks are made from a truly horrifying substance: PVC, or vinyl. Vinyl really makes The Green Guide scream, because of the damage it wreaks at every stage of its life cycle, from fabrication through use to disposal -- see, for example, "PVC Cling Wrap: Too Close for Comfort". Moreover, soft vinyl products usually contain phthalates, substances that pose potential risks to human health and to normal fetal and child development (see "Drop Dead Gorgeous?").

Vinyl masks, given that they cover the face and may be offgassing fumes you can't help but inhale, are especially to be avoided. Masks are usually either of vinyl or latex, and you can tell the two apart by their odors: vinyl smells like a shower curtain, whereas latex rubber masks smell like balloons. Kids may also find vinyl in wigs or in shiny leather-ish belts and boots. Watch for that shower curtain smell! Most retail outlets sell a mix of vinyl and latex masks -- so ask your retailer, or perform the "sniff" test to choose latex. You also can find an all-latex mask collection online at www.halloween-masks.com. Allergy Alert: some people have severe allergic reactions to latex, and ought to avoid latex masks as well.

The great Green Guide pumpkin wishes you a safe and happy Halloween. Also see "Organic Treats, No Tricks" for some organic Halloween treat ideas.

References

Pedersen, K.L. et al. (March 2000) "The preservatives ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben are Oestrogenic in an in Vivo Fish Assay," Pharmacology Toxicology.

Routledge, E. J., J. Parker, et al. (1998). "Some alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (Parabens) are estrogenic." Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 153: 12-19.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (December 1999) "Diethanolamine and Cosmetic Products," available at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-dea.html.