Understanding Ellen White

Statement 2: Toxic cosmetics

“Many are ignorantly injuring their health and endangering their life by using cosmetics. They are robbing the cheeks of the glow of health, and then to supply the deficiency use cosmetics. When they become heated in the dance the poison is absorbed by the pores of the skin, and is thrown into [sic] the blood. Many lives have been sacrificed by this means alone.” ¹⁴ In support of her warning against toxic cosmetics, White again quotes a physician who describes the contemporary women’s fashion of painting the face with enamel or lacquer to give skin the appearance of “fine porcelain” The physician is quoted to say, “The seeds of death or paralysis” are “hidden in every pot and jar of those mixtures,” causing severe illness, sudden paralysis, or even death. ¹⁵ Symptoms described here are consistent with lead poisoning from lead-based cosmetics commonly used in the day. ¹⁶ UEGW 182.2