Ingredients

Does anyone know if TAG, DFX and Wolfe contain any of the following metals:

nickel
cobalt
lead
chromium

I don't see it written on the back of the containers.. but am wondering if I'm missing something.

http://www.facepaintsdirect.co.uk/MSDS/Diamond%20FX%20MSDS/Diamond%20fx%20safety%20sheet.pdf This is the MSDS for Diamond FX

Thanks EFF I have all the data sheets, but am wondering if it's possible these brands contain some of the above, without it being listed on the sheet...

I read you response and saw "EFF" and I was like "what did she just call me?" hahaha. I know they have guidelines to follow but just like anything else, who knows! Btw you can call me Erica xoxo

Erica - just so you know, you may well get a message from an admin asking you to remove that link. I did very similar when posting a DFX statement some time ago, not realising it was hosted at another paint-selling store, and that's apparently against the rules.

Just a quick heads-up, and a vague feeling of relief that I'm not the only member to have made that mistake.

Those things are not INGREDIENTS but any of those things can be found in many things- including tap water- if tested. Heavy metal contamination is a reality of our world.

Oh, I didn't know...if it's a problem I will remove it I didn't see anywhere that Metina had the MSDS listed though...

I think Shannon has all that info on her links...and it's kosher w/FPF.

Why would you think that they did, Willoughby? Because they are made in China, or some other reason? DFX had a problem with counterfeit paint a while back, but I think that was only in the US and the issue was quality, not contamination.

JennyNixe wrote:Why would you think that they did, Willoughby? Because they are made in China, or some other reason? DFX had a problem with counterfeit paint a while back, but I think that was only in the US and the issue was quality, not contamination.

I was reading the article about the 10 tested paints that contained the metals. Snazaroo was one brand where plenty was found. Since they didn't do tests on DFX and TAG for example, I was just curious if anyone knew anything about those.

Have you seen the statement by Snaz about those tests? It's quite eye-opening, and means that I still use (and feel happy with) Snazaroo paints.

Yes- the contamination levels found in Snaz were LOWER than the contamination levels allowed in the drinking water in my city, by a considerable percentage.

Those things will never be on the MSDS sheets, as they are not ingrediants. That is, they are not intentionally put in there as part of the product.

Just like most crayons and talcum powder have asbestos in them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos#Asbestos_and_talc and while on the subject of contamination- read this at your own peril- http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/06/29/how_many_insect_parts_and_rodent_hairs_are_allowed_in_your_food.htm

Hi Kammy, yes I read the response. But let's not forget that these are all companies that will do anything to defend their products. It's their business after all and all a money making concern. As is any business. I don't have any Snaz kits, only the few colors that might be in some of my SillyFarm cakes (which ones, I don't know of course). Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of paints and have been painting my daughter quite frequently, I do find it 'weird' though that there is a lack of 'factual' information on the amounts of these metals in the brands I mentioned. Why is it just not disclosed? That way we'd all be aware of it. If people are concerned, then not listing such metals on the label is not exactly smart in my eyes. Do all you guys paint your own kids every day when you want to practice, or do you make more use of your practice heads and skins?

Dean - I meant to mention that too, that as they're not ingredients (but a natural element of the pigments etc. used in manufacture), they wouldn't be listed. I presume that as the natural amount of any given metal would vary from batch to batch, as it would vary in the natural environment and hence the pigments used, the only way to find out the exact quantity of any given element would be to test THAT batch.

As Dean's post points out, there are non-ingredient unwanted elements in EVERYTHING - hence crayons containing asbestos and baby formula containing formaldehyde.

Everyone has to make their own choice, of course - and I absolutely respect that you're doing your homework on this to make an informed choice! However, I personally feel fine about using Snazaroo paints.

I don't have a practice head, unless you count my face. As for my little boy, he has his own Snaz kit so I don't get to paint him much anymore! I do, however, have a small band of willing victims who come over for me to splodge on on a semi-regular basis.

I have the MSDS posted on my resources pages - if you want a non-biased site to have a look see.

I think the information is not disclosed because the metals are contaminants and their levels vary from batch to batch. The face paint companies aren't required to disclose levels under a certain threshold. The same is true for almost all manufacturers.

Even when face paint is totally free of heavy metal contamination, the ingredients themselves can, in large quantities, be of concern. Snazaroo contains parabens, which are possibly endocrine disrupters. Mica, which is an ingredient even in "organic" face paints, can cause organ toxicity. Talc is an asbestiform fiber, which can accumulate in the lungs and cause cancer.

You can drive yourself crazy with this stuff.

JennyNixe wrote:
Even when face paint is totally free of heavy metal contamination, the ingredients themselves can, in large quantities, be of concern. Snazaroo contains parabens, which are possibly endocrine disrupters. Mica, which is an ingredient even in "organic" face paints, can cause organ toxicity. Talc is an asbestiform fiber, which can accumulate in the lungs and cause cancer.

Thank you for this information, I think this pretty much says it all.

Of course, as said previously....there are also parabens in some fruit. Baby formula contains formaldehyde. Crayons contain asbestos.

It's impossible to avoid everything, and we're not meant to (it messes up our immune systems if we avoid everything "bad", as shown by the rise in allergies). My son is exposed to far worse things than my face paint, however hard I try to keep him safe.

Willoughby - do you wear makeup everyday to work? Drink tap water? Put diapers on your infant? Give your school aged children crayons?

The point is that yes, Snaz has low levels of heavy metals. Your municipality tap water has higher levels.

tamarielpaints wrote:Willoughby - do you wear makeup everyday to work? Drink tap water? Put diapers on your infant? Give your school aged children crayons?

The point is that yes, Snaz has low levels of heavy metals. Your municipality tap water has higher levels.

Tamariel, you can add ---eat meat from animals that have been fed with who knows what hormones, vegetables that could possibly be sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, processed foods with tons of preservatives and dyes, clean your house with chemicals, use pesticides, wash your clothes with detergents, go out in the sun without sunscreen, etc. etc. etc. You really can drive yourself crazy with it all.

No. The makeup you asked about along with all other brands in order to be sold in the USA must meet certain standards to be able to comply with FDA standards and pass customs inspection and therefore be allowed into the county.

(This the issue with DFX coming into the country without labels - it stands that there is not clear answer unless you take sides. It is contended that the DFX to which is referred was not counterfit but real DFX simply not labeled. There has been speculation since DFX began coming into the USA that it did not not meet FDA standards and was being labeled in the USA and not prior to customs. But that it not the topic here).

Ingredients are the actual "things" going into the makeup. Any number of ingredients based on what they are may contain trace elements. i.e. most colorants (pigments - and most all come for China) contain trace elements. So what is a trace element? It is any element in a sample that has an average concentration of less than 100 parts per million measured in atomic count or less than 100 micrograms per gram. Sorry for the babble, I know this too well, my partner is professional scientist, one of his degrees is in chemistry and he has soil and water tested for elements, as it is his job to clean up dirty sites.

No makeup company would knowing add the chemicals, listed as heavy metals, you ask about. So no, as regulated safety standards go the makeup either contains average concentrates so low they need not be named or none at all.

As for the makeup you ask about the sheer fact it is made in China or a province of China (as these makeup brands contrary to popular belief are not made in the same factory) does not by that fact make it less safe than other brands. Of course there are certain standards non-communist countries strive for that are more than likely above those in a country that dehumanizes its workforce.

Some say none of our face paint makeup is safe and some say it is all safe. Where you stand only you can decide based on homework, moral beliefs, personal and business ethics which makeup you use and deem to be safe.

Good to ask these questions

Willhoughby, you might also want to investigate the group that is responsible for that article. Scare tactic and worry mongering aimed at riling the lesser educated masses (educated as it pertains to knowledge of the products we use, not from a scholastic standpoint) is common place with them. We can sit around and concede that everybody is lying or we can look at what drives each propaganda machine. I'd rather just paint.

In short...the very air you breath can be dangerous to you...not that I'd reccomend holding your breath...that could kill you faster than the chemicals in the air and the trace chemicals in everything we touch...I'll be the dust mites that crawl all over us at night even have evidence of chemical trace amounts on their ugly little bodies.

The best bet is to move off planet...but then there's the journey to consider...

I would think if it was FDA approved it was ok

Just the ingredients are FDA approved, not the combination of the ingredients that are used to make the paint. Thats where it all gets a little fuzzy... Common household products are ok alone but put them together and you could have a bomb. I always patch test a spot on my arm with each paint I add to my kit to check for reactions before using it on anyone else. I have fairly sensitive skin and if I don't have a negative experience then I assume it will be ok to use. I'm not an expert but I'm not reckless either...

If you decide to get rid of your paints, Willoughby, be sure to list them in the swap shop.