Mag'e-zine homeView the Archive

Mineral Misinformation

Recently Dr. Oz and Arthur Perry presented a segment on the most dangerous beauty products. I watched the segment and quite frankly, I was appalled with the scare tactics and sensationalism. While I wholeheartedly believe in educated consumers and the use of valid scientific studies, I don’t believe that using ‘fear’ and misinformation is the way to achieve the goal of educating consumers. There were several things that bothered me about the segment, however, I’m going to address the ones that I found most troubling, Nanoparticles, inhalation of Nanoparticles and FDA regulations of cosmetics.

First, Dr. Oz made the claim that ALL mineral makeup is made with “Nanoparticles” and that applying mineral makeup will result in lung damage. This is blatantly untrue and misleading. I’ve made the decision to formulate without Nanoparticle size ingredients because I don’t believe there is enough scientific evidence to show they are safe, and the evidence to show their danger is limited because it’s a new area of research. Some companies use Nanoparticle size ingredients because they offer a smooth feel and translucent finish. Nevertheless, Valana Minerals believes that we can formulate superior quality products without the use Nanoparticles.

So, what exactly is a Nanoparticle and what’s the big deal? Nano size particles are particles that are so small that they can not only penetrate pores of the skin, they are easily inhaled, they may also end up in the bloodstream creating deposits and damaging vital organs. There is data to show that Nanoparticles may be dangerous to in laboratory studies (studies listed below), however the research regarding humans is limited because nano-technology is relatively new and considered to be an emerging field of study.

The studies that show that inhalation of mineral dust is dangerous to humans were conducted with miners. It’s irresponsible to present research conducted with miners as though it can be equally compared to the average makeup consumer. Miners are exposed constantly for dozens of hours each week, are exposed to unrefined minerals (ie. toxins have not been removed – still ‘raw’), and miners may or may not have appropriate protective gear. Ingredients that are approved for cosmetic use are created and processed in laboratories so there are no toxins. The average consumer is exposed for a few minutes and all you have to do to avoid a “cloud” of minerals is follow the application instructions. I'd also say that almost anything used improperly can be dangerous, even something as harmless as water. If it's contaminated, inhaled into the lungs or too much is swallowed over a short period of time, it can kill. Nevertheless, most people manage to effectively use water daily and without incident.

During the segment Arthur Perry states that there is no evidence to show that anyone has developed an illness, been injured or developed any other medical problem due to mineral makeup and then goes on to insist that it’s potentially deadly. Modern mineral makeup has a 30 year history in the United States. There is no evidence to show that it’s dangerous, so why try to scare people with misinformation?

Next, both Dr. Oz and Arthur Perry claim that the FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetics. This is also blatantly false. In fact our website maintains a link to the FDA Cosmetic Regulation website (link below) and has since the Valana Minerals website was launched. All of the ingredients we use in our products are approved for cosmetic use and are purchased from laboratories that are registered with the FDA. Investigations by the FDA are “complaint driven.” They have the power to investigate, warn, fine, force a recall or pull from shelves any product deemed problematic, which they will do if there are complaints. The idea that “pre-market” testing will somehow save us from ourselves is misleading. For example, the ingredients Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide are approved for cosmetic use by the FDA and have been deemed safe. When these ingredients are blended together to create a finished product, they don’t suddenly become ‘unsafe’ and I believe that to imply otherwise is misleading.

I have always maintained an informative policy when it comes to the ingredients used by Valana Minerals. We will never use ‘hidden’ ingredients or deceptive practices in our formulations, marketing or any other business practice. Our ingredients are not only listed on each full size product, they are listed on our website and updated regularly. While normally I respect and actually like Dr. Oz and his mission, in this case I believe the scare tactics may do more harm than good.

Since the broadcast several business owners, like myself, have addressed the concerns brought about by Dr. Oz. I’ve listed links to some of the other responses to the segment and sources. Want to know more?

Opinions from other small business owners:
Donna Standridge is a talented cosmetic formulator and has a professional background in the medical field. Click here to read her response to the segment.

Karrie Welch is an accomplished makeup artist and cosmetic formulator.
Click here to read Karrie’s response.

Research on nanoparticles:
Nanoparticles used in common household items caused genetic damage in mice. 2009.Article on nanoprticles in household items.

Peter HM Hoet, Irene Brüske-Hohlfeld, Oleg V Salata. Nanoparticles: known and unknown health risks. 2004. Article on potential health risks in nano technology

FDA Cosmetic Guidelines

Comments

Harmony M. Wrote: Hi. Just wondering if you went to Dr. Oz's website and submitted this letter?

Name: Email: Comment:
To verify that you are a human, please enter the word "valana" in the field below (without quotes).

A value is required.Invalid format.

* All comments will be reviewed before being posted to the blog.