What's the deal with talc? Is it safe? Is it not safe?

I get asked this question almost every week by my clients. It's easy to understand why everyone is so concerned with talc with so many lawsuits these last few years concerning talc being in baby powder and causing ovarian cancer. 

But, you might be surprised to hear that talc on its own is actually not dangerous.  It's the asbestos that commonly contaminates talc that is the problem.  

How do you know if talc is asbestos free?

It's pretty straight forward.  Most talc on the market has a high likelihood of being contaminated with asbestos.  There are some manufacturers who are making certified free talc, so if you have a hard time finding a talc-free alternative, call the company to see if their talc is certified asbestos free.

Why do companies use talc?

Talc is extremely absorbent, so it's widely used in baby powders, blushes and powder foundations.  Some companies are looking to...