Informal markets for cosmetics and personal care products are expanding across Latin America. Many items lack labels, brands or health certificates, and studies show toxic chemicals and heavy metals in cheap products sold at street stalls. Researchers have found arsenic, mercury, lead and other metals in lipsticks, eyeshadows, nail polish, skin lighteners and hair products.
Economic pressures and cultural use help explain demand for low-priced goods. Peru’s Chamber of Commerce reported in 2024 that counterfeit cosmetics cost the national industry over US$260 million. The formal regional market was valued at US$58.71 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$95.06 billion by 2034. Vendors and small sellers, and even clandestine laboratories, supply the informal trade.
Scientific studies map the chemical risks. In 2023 Evelyn Santos analysed 30 lipsticks from informal Lima markets and found heavy metals in all samples, with cadmium at 0.6 ppm and mercury at 0.2 ppm on average; under US FDA standards mercury was permissible but cadmium exceeded safety limits, and under stricter EU rules most samples were above limits. In Mexico Francisco Bautista’s team found vanadium “ranging from hundreds to thousands” in low- and mid-range lipsticks and detected copper, nickel, tin and lead chlorate. A study in São Paulo found high arsenic in children’s costume makeup with cancer risks above accepted limits.
Experts warn that toxins can enter the body through the skin and that children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. Martha Téllez-Rojo has followed 800 women and their children for more than 30 years and found traces of heavy metals and signs of early neurodevelopmental and hormonal effects. Paulina Abrica González found greater DNA damage from titanium oxide nanoparticles and said it may take “another five or ten years” to see long-term results. Some researchers call for the precautionary principle and stricter limits, and they ask for transparency about ingredients and concentrations to protect consumers, especially minors.
Difficult words
- clandestine — done secretly, often to avoid laws or rules
- cadmium — a toxic metal sometimes found in consumer products
- precautionary principle — idea to reduce risk before full scientific proof
- nanoparticle — extremely small particle, much smaller than cellsnanoparticles
- transparency — clear information for consumers about ingredients and concentrations
- counterfeit — made to copy a real product without permission
- neurodevelopmental — relating to how a person's nervous system develops
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might people continue to buy informal, low-priced cosmetics despite the health risks described in the article? Give reasons based on the text.
- What measures could governments or companies take to reduce the chemical risks from informal cosmetic products? Mention actions suggested in the article.
- How might detecting heavy metals in children's makeup affect families, schools, and local health services? Describe possible consequences.
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