Parents have been urged by the health products regulator to check the labels on face paint products ahead of Halloween in case they contain harmful substances.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said research it had carried out suggested more than one in five people (21 per cent) don't read the product information before buying such products for their children.
They should be vigilant of the potential dangers posed by sub-standard face paints which, in the past, had been found to contain heavy metals.
A survey of 1,000 adults by Amárach research for the HPRA last month suggested 88 per cent of parents allow their children to have their faces painted and nearly half said their children wore face paints up to five times a year.
Two thirds were likely to allow their children wear face paints at Halloween, which falls on Saturday.
Nine out of 10 parents (91 per cent) surveyed said they did know to check for an EU address on the labelling when purchasing products - a requirement set down by European legislation and considered by the HPRA to be the most important thing to look for.
"High levels of heavy metals have been found in some brands of children's cosmetics available in Europe in recent years and parents should be aware that the standard of products available can vary," the authority said.
Parents should buy from a reputable source where the product can be traced to a supplier.
Cosmetics on the EU market are required to have an EU address on the packaging, and people purchasing face paints should look for this.
“The absence of an EU address indicates that the product has been imported from outside the EU and may not meet European requirements for safety,” the HPRA said.
Cosmetics compliance manager wih the regulator, Aoife Farrell, said that while no safety issues had arisen recently from face paints in Ireland, there was a need to be mindful of the nature of the product being applied to young skin.
“We are mindful there is an extensive range of face paint products available on the market coming from a wide variety of sources at hugely varying prices so this is a key thing to check. Our concern stems from the fact that even very small levels of certain ingredients, which may be undeclared on the labelling, can cause harm and irritation to children’s skin.”
Surveillance on such products is increased at this time of the year by the HPRA, the HSE’s environmental health service, and public analyst laboratories.
Concerns about face paints or other such products should be reported to the HPRA.