A girls' clothing retailer is disputing a report that a variety of its makeup contains traces of asbestos.
WTVD-TV in Durham, N.C., commissioned tests of several kids' makeup products at Greensboro's Scientific Analytical Institute and recently reported that the analysis of Justice's "Just Shine Shimmer Powder" found evidence of the toxic mineral linked to cancer and lung disease.
Sean Fitzgerald, the lab's research director, told the station that talc -- a common makeup ingredient -- can form with other minerals in the earth and, in this case, was contaminated with asbestos.
The test also reportedly found evidence of barium, chromium, lead and selenium in the Justice makeup.
The retailer promptly responded that it launched an internal investigation into the matter and stopped selling the product "out of an abundance of caution."
Three days later, however, the company said in a statement that a third-party, ISO-certified testing lab found that "there is no asbestos in our Just Shine Shimmer Powder product."
"Reports suggesting that the product contains asbestos are simply inaccurate," the company said.