Determination of trace elements in eyeshadow face powder and rouge make-up cosmetics by neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Some trace elements exist in cosmetics due to the mineral origin of their raw materials and there is no information about their concentration levels in these products. Other trace elements must not be contained in cosmetics according to the list of European Communities. Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied to determine the elements: cerium, cesium, europium, hafnium, lanthanum, lutetium, potassium, rubidium, samarium, scandium, sodium, tantalum, terbium, tungsten and ytterbium in eyeshadow, face powder and rouge make up cosmetic products from the Greek market. According to our results, a wide range of values was found between the three examined cosmetics as well as between the different samples belong to the same kind of cosmetics. This probably could be attributed to the various manufacturers of the analyzed samples. Moreover the use of neutron activation analysis as a suitable routine method is discussed for the control of some elements which must not be contained in cosmetics.