Claire’s Is Recalling Its Makeup Because of an Asbestos Contamination

(Image credit: John Keeble)

published 13 March 2019

The FDA has released a warning that asbestos has been found in Claire's makeup.
Customers are warned to stop using the affected products and return them immediately.
Claire's issued a response, assuring customers that their "products are safe."

Text your little sister right now: "PUT. DOWN. THE. EYESHADOW. AND. STEP. AWAY." The FDA just released some terrifying news: Makeup from your favorite affordable mall stop, Claire's, has tested positive for asbestos.

In a recent FDA testing, traces of asbestos were found in Claire's Eyeshadow (SKU #84716, Lot No. 08/17), Claire's Compact Powder (SKU #83915, Lot No. 07/15), and Claire's Contour Palette (SKU #40194, Lot No. 04/17).

#WARNING: FDA is advising consumers NOT to use certain @claires eye shadows, compact powder, & contour powder products because they may be contaminated w/ #asbestos fibers. If you have these cosmetics in your home - stop using them. https://t.co/CqtxENLZye pic.twitter.com/GTYdnWzKvaMarch 5, 2019

The accessory retailer has taken the products off of shelves and if you happen to have one of them in your makeup bag, the FDA advises you stop using them immediately and head straight to Claire's for a full refund.

On the FDA website, it's explained exactly how asbestos could have gotten into the makeup.

"Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asbestos however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. During talc mining, if talc mining sites are not selected carefully and steps are taken to purify the talc ore sufficiently, the talc may be contaminated with asbestos."

Claire's, however, is contesting the accusations, assuring customers in a statement on Twitter that their "products are safe" and arguing that the FDA's test showed "significant errors."

At Claire’s, customer safety is paramount, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the highest quality and safest products. We wish to address today's FDA warning that three cosmetic items sold by Claire’s may have been contaminated with asbestos. pic.twitter.com/tpNfLRtNIKMarch 6, 2019

Read the full FDA statement here.

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Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance fashion editor and writer, specializing in e-commerce and celebrity style content. With more than nine years of experience in digital media, Kelsey has a knack for turning top-performing content into top-selling content. Before taking her talents to Marie Claire, Kelsey was the Senior Fashion Editor at Bustle, where she oversaw the site’s fashion coverage and launched a successful luxury handbag series called Secure The Bag. Prior to Bustle, she came from a six-year stint at Seventeen, during which she managed the team’s fashion and beauty verticals and led e-commerce strategy. In addition to writing and editing, Kelsey also offers freelance creative consulting services, as well as content creation. Follow @klstieg on Instagram for 'fit pics and travel recommendations.