We're happy to present this article from our friends at Allure: California health officials are going undercover to find the distributors of smuggled Mexican skin creams containing dangerous levels of mercury. The creams are mainly skin lighteners, since mercury removes pigment. The tainted cosmetics are brought into in the country illegally and sold surreptitiously at pharmacies, shops, and Read more

Major beauty drama is going down in Michigan: an indie cosmetics brand Glittersniffer is being accused of using unsafe ingredients in its eye makeup. Glittersniffer proprietor Lela Warren, who does not have formal training in cosmetics formulation, is under fire for using non-FDA approved soap dyes — which can lead to irritation and even blindness — in the brand's vividly hued eye shadows. Read more

Over the last few years, there's been a lot of back and forth about parabens, especially their possible effects as reproductive hormone disruptors. Now, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has released an opinion suggesting that, according to the available data, "systemic exposure from typical cosmetic use scenarios will be negligible." The committee found that, at least with Read more

If you're getting Botox or Dysport in your forehead, you could also be losing muscle in your arms or legs, leading to sag not unlike these adorable Shar Peis. Doctors have long been aware that one of botulinum toxin's side effects is muscle wasting; after all, when you paralyze a muscle to keep it from wrinkling, it begins to weaken and atrophy very quickly. Apparently new, however, are findings Read more

For years, some people have been grumbling about the heavy clouds of fragrance that Abercrombie & Fitch pumps through its stores, but this October, activist group Teens Going Green actually decided to protest. The group objected to A&F's in-store use of their Fierce fragrance on the grounds that "Abercrombie & Fitch customers are unknowingly being exposed to harmful chemicals by Read more

Trouble for a popular hair straightening treatment, the Brazilian Blowout, started brewing back in September when Oregon's OSHA released alarming results of its study. While Brazilian Blowout products are advertised as formaldehyde-free, OSHA found higher-than-allowable percentages of the toxin in all samples tested. A similar study by the Canadian government also concluded the solution had Read more

On Wednesday, the state of California filed a complaint against GIB LLC, the maker of Brazilian Blowout, saying that the company failed to warn both stylists and customers that the product contained formaldehyde. The state's asking that Brazilian Blowout remove anything on the brand's advertising, packaging, and website declaring that the products are "formaldehyde-free" and "safe." This comes Read more

Concerned for the safety of the public, and especially for nail technicians, many city and state governments across the country are showing greater interest in nail salon safety standards. In San Francisco, for instance, the recently passed Healthy Nail Salon Recognition ordinance calls for the city to identify salons that use toluene-, DBP-, and formaldehyde-free polishes (three free). In New Read more

Hi gang, an extremely rueful Blondie Bella here. After a weekend of Halloween revelry, I'm currently laid up at home with a corneal abrasion. Apparently, all the Taylor Momsen glittery black eyeliner I kept rubbing on was seriously scratchy, despite its claims to the contrary, and got stuck under my contacts. I feel like a huge stereotype (I mean, a beauty editor scratching her own eye out with Read more