A recent report by the “Chicago Tribune,” however, shows that we need to be even more cautious in our choices. After testing 50 skin-lightening creams, they found that six of them contained mercury, in amounts banned by federal law. Five of those had more than 6,000 parts per million, enough to potentially cause health damage over time.

Why would they find mercury in these creams? It blocks the production of melanin—that compound in the skin that gives it its color. There are other options for lightening, of course, but mercury is readily available and inexpensive. It’s also highly toxic, readily absorbed through the skin, and can affect vision, organs, and neurological functioning.

This is concerning not only because of the toxicity of mercury, but because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned mercury in skin-bleaching or lightening products back in 1990. Unfortunately, the fact that these six products were available to customers is an example of the lack of testing that goes on with cosmetic products. The FDA says it simply can’t inspect all the products that may be available to consumers.

That means it’s up to us to police our own safety.

Unless we have our own testing laboratories, however, we’re not going to be able to tell if a cream contains mercury. We can, however, be more cautious in the brands we choose. The creams that tested high in mercury for this report, for example, were manufactured in Lebanon, China, India, Pakistan, and Taiwan. It makes no difference, though, where you buy the product, as these were available anywhere form large beauty-supply stores to herbal medicine shops to beauty salons. Retailers may order them over the Internet, buy them from overseas suppliers or bring them in personally from other countries.

What are your options? Research your brands. Since it’s more difficult for the FDA to inspect import products, you may want to stick with U.S. brands for lightening creams, or at least be sure your foreign brands are strict about safety. (The Chicago report found no mercury in a sample of “Fair & White,” for example, a lightener made in France.) Stick with safe companies like Marie Veronique Organics, Suki, Juice Beauty, and others that are conscientious about their choice of ingredients. Finally, fiercely protect your skin from the sun, as that is the biggest culprit in creating age spots and uneven skin tone.

Do you have a favorite safe skin-lightening product? Let us know.

Photo courtesy ebemobile via Flickr.com.

Mercury has several adverse health effects, including birth or developmental defects, damage to the brain and nervous system, and organ system toxicity. Fortunately, most mascaras don’t contain mercury anymore, but some still do, especially the “cake-type” varieties.  How can you tell? Don’t look for “mercury” on the ingredient list. In mascaras and other personal-care products, mercury comes from an ingredient called “thimerosal,” a compound that’s about 49% mercury by weight, and is used as an antiseptic and antifungal agent. (Look for “thimerosal” or “mercuric” on the label.)

Thimerosal is also used in vaccines and tattoo ink, basically to kill bacteria and fungi. It’s been linked to allergies and skin irritation, and because it’s easily absorbed through the skin, the FDA banned the use of it in all cosmetics 30 years ago…except in those products you use around the eyes. May seem illogical at first, but the eyes are more susceptible to infection, so products used anywhere around them need to be free of contaminants. Thimerosal has long been the favorite anti-microbial, but with new alternatives now available, regulation is currently outdated.

Though levels of thimerosol in personal-care products are low, concern increases when you find it in some eye moisturizers; makeup removers; nose, eye, and ear drops; eye ointments; and some imported skin lighteners and soaps. Combine that with our potential exposure to mercury in the fish we eat and you’ve got too much exposure to this dangerous metal. According to Carl Herbrandson, a toxicologist with the state Health Department, mercury accumulates in the body, so consumers should avoid exposure whenever possible. “Mercury is bad, basically in all forms that get into the body,” Herbrandson said.

The state of Minnesota took action in 2007 by becoming the first (and so far, the only) state to ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics in 2007. “Mercury does cause neurological damage to people even in tiny quantities,” said Sen. John Marty, the Democrat who sponsored the ban. “Every source of mercury adds to it. We wanted to make sure it wasn’t here.”

Until regulation catches up with modern-day knowledge and preference, choose mascaras made by more health-conscious companies like Afterglow Cosmetics, Ecco Bella, Honeybee Gardens, and Jane Iredale, or research your favorite brand at The Skin Deep Database to make sure it’s free of mercury and other harmful carcinogens.

Have a favorite mercury-free mascara? Please tell us about it!

Photo courtesy of scruge11, via Flickr.com.