London Legal Podcast: Asbestos In Cosmetic Body Powder And Make-Up – An Overview

Host: Hello and welcome to another edition of The Letter of the Law on Bloomsbury Radio, via Bloomsbury Institute London. This episode is also going out on the London Legal Podcast as recorded and distributed by law firm Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Today, the subject of our conversation turns to Asbestos and Workplace Illness, and specifically asbestos in cosmetic body powder and make-up. We’re pleased to welcome as our guest today, Isobel Lovett. Hello to you Isobel.

Isobel Lovett: Hello.

Host: Tell our audience a bit more about yourself and what you do at the firm please.

Isobel Lovett: I am a Partner and Head of the Asbestos and Workplace Illness Team at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. I joined the firm and set up the department in 2015. I specialise in asbestos related disease cases and have been assisting people affected by asbestos illnesses to bring compensation claims for around 27 years.

I was drawn to work for Hodge Jones & Allen by the firm’s long-standing commitment to helping individuals who otherwise, would not be able, to gain access to justice and to fighting for the rights of the individual against large corporate interests.

Host: Tell us a little about Hodge Jones & Allen for listeners who aren’t familiar with the firm.

Isobel Lovett: Hodge Jones & Allen was founded in 1977 by Henry Hodge, Peter Jones and Patrick Allen, with a strong access-to-justice ethos. We’re a Top 250 UK law firm and almost 50 years on, the firm has grown significantly, and we’ve been most recently recognised in the Times Best Law Firms 2026 list.

Everyone who works at HJA follows the philosophy of helping people gain access to the law, irrelevant of a client’s means or background, and this ethos has always been at the forefront of what we do. I am very proud to be part of the Hodge Jones & Allen team.

Host: Isobel, what made you want to become a specialist lawyer in the field of mesothelioma?

Isobel Lovett: Actually, the work found me. I was already doing cases involving industrial accidents, when I was approached to join a firm representing asbestos victims, many of whom had mesothelioma. That was 26 years ago! I found the work to be both intellectually challenging and rewarding, in terms of being able to make a real difference where people had their lives turned upside down by a diagnosis of mesothelioma. I also find the cases satisfying in ensuring, as far as I can, that the offending companies or more usually, their employer’s liability insurers, have to pay compensation for the damage they caused, which was entirely preventable. I’m on the side of David in the battle against Goliath.

I enjoy getting to know my clients and their families, building the case, the tactical thinking involved and ultimately, winning for my clients. I can often secure funding for treatment options only available on the NHS. It’s usually a race against time, which adds pressure, but I am experienced in dealing with that. Ultimately, though, I am conscious that no amount of compensation is truly adequate in a mesothelioma case.

Host: Just to recap, what is asbestos?

Isobel Lovett: Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral which is mined from the ground. Although not found in the UK, it is abundant in other countries including South Africa, Canada, Russia, Brazil, the US and others. Vast quantities of asbestos were imported into the UK between the 60s and 80s, before it was finally banned here in 1999. Asbestos has many properties which make it very useful. It is heat and fire resistant and was used in the manufacture of lots of different products, from building materials, brake pads, to mattress filling and even cigarette filters.

Host: So what’s the connection between asbestos and talcum powder and make-up?

Isobel Lovett: Talcum body powder and talc-based make-up products are part of everyday life in the UK, but it is still not widely known that talc-based products can be contaminated with microscopic asbestos fibres. This can happen because like asbestos, talc is a silicate mineral, which is widely used in manufacturing as a filler or to absorb moisture and prevent caking, making it ideal for use on the body and face. Some cosmetic companies sell talcum body powder on its own or they use talc as an ingredient in make-up products such as eye shadow, blusher, bronzer, face powder and mascara.

Unfortunately, talc is often found in the same underground rock deposits as asbestos, so they are classed as “companion minerals”. This means that when talc is extracted and processed, if there is no proper filtering to specifically remove asbestos fibres, they can end up in a cannister of talcum powder or in a make-up product which has talc as an ingredient.

We now know that the most serious asbestos- related condition, malignant mesothelioma, can be caused by extensive use of talc-based body or foot powder or make-up, sometimes decades after use of the product began or even ceased.

Host: How long has this been going on?

Isobel Lovett: Since the 1999 ban on new asbestos in products, UK Regulations require manufacturers to ensure that all talc used is “asbestos-free” through rigorous testing and supply chain due diligence, so contamination in the UK is rare, though trace amounts are still occasionally detected. However, in 2017, it was discovered that asbestos contaminated talcum powder was contained in children’s make-up on sale in a high street store and in 2021, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) carried out tests on some cosmetic products, which proved positive for asbestos. In 2024, an investigation for a BBC3 documentary identified asbestos fibres in 8 talc-containing cosmetic products purchased from UK high street retailers. However, this is not just a recent discovery.

Host: This goes back before that doesn’t it, over decades?

Isobel Lovett: Yes. Some of the biggest global manufacturers of talc-based cosmetic products have known since at least the 1970s, that the talc used in their product was contaminated with asbestos fibres, but they hid this from regulators and consumers. Some diluted the contaminated talc with “clean” talc: others carried on as usual, reckless as to the potential risk to consumers’ health, even though it was well known by the mid-1960s that exposure to asbestos fibres could cause mesothelioma. Profit was simply put before corporate responsibility.

However, some companies have responded by introducing more rigorous sourcing of talc which they declare to be “asbestos-free” while others have switched to corn-starch-based products, to eliminate the risk.

Host: Can people affected take Legal Action?

Isobel Lovett: Concerns about asbestos in talcum powder have led to vast numbers of lawsuits and, in some cases, settlements for individuals who have developed Mesothelioma. In the last decade, cases have been filed in US courts against many big-brand cosmetic companies, some of whom produce “luxury” high-end beauty products.

The US has a strong legal system for product liability claims, allowing victims to sue companies that manufactured and sold asbestos-contaminated cosmetic products, leading to significant compensation payouts, including the establishment of multi-billion-dollar settlement funds to resolve lawsuits.

Some corporations have tried to avoid these liabilities by performing what is known as the “Texas – two – step”, whereby they transfer the talc liabilities to a subsidiary which then files for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the parent company continues trading. Johnson & Johnson, facing the largest number of lawsuits, has tried this three times, but on each occasion, the petition has been rejected by the Texan Court.

Host: How can this help UK mesothelioma sufferers who may have been exposed to asbestos in this way?

Isobel Lovett: In the UK, legal action is more challenging because product liability cases here face strict time limits from the date the defective product was used. Because mesothelioma usually only becomes apparent decades after usage has ceased, our product liability laws do not accommodate such claims. In rare cases, claims have been brought in England based on the manufacturer’s negligence.

However, UK consumers diagnosed with mesothelioma due to prolonged use of talc-based cosmetic products may be able to bring product liability claims in the US, where the courts have increasingly acknowledged the international impact of asbestos exposure, enabling claimants from outside the US to seek justice.

Host: That’s a vital option for UK claimants – so have you and your team worked with US attorneys to help clients from the UK?

Isobel Lovett: Since 2017, we have worked with US attorneys who specialise in talc product liability cases, to help UK mesothelioma sufferers pursue claims in the US. In living claims, an accelerated court process known as the “Rocket Docket” is used and in successful cases, damages are considerably higher than UK awards, due to the availability of jury awards and punitive damages, designed to punish the wrong doer. There are also procedural differences. The US legal process is based on oral evidence, but this is often obtained by video-link, avoiding the need for the Plaintiff to travel to the US in many cases. Many cases are settled out of court but under strict confidentiality agreements. Strict time limits apply and vary from state to state so affected Claimants should not delay in seeking expert advice about making such a claim.

Host: What would your advice be to someone listening to this who has used, or who currently uses, talc or make-up?

Isobel Lovett: Most of us who have used asbestos contaminated talc products and make-up will not develop mesothelioma, but unfortunately, some will. To reduce your risk, I recommend you:

• Check Ingredients: Look at product labels for “talc.” They are often not on the packaging and sales staff are often unaware so you may need to check online.
• Choose Alternatives: Opt for cosmetics labelled “talc-free,” which often use cornstarch, arrowroot or kaolin clay as talc alternatives.
• Be Cautious with Powders: Limit the use of loose powders, which are more likely to become airborne.
• Monitor Updates: from the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for any product recalls.
• Health Advice: If you are concerned about past long-term use, consult a GP or a specialist for health advice.

Host: What should you do if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or know a loved one who has?

Isobel Lovett: At Hodge Jones & Allen we have assisted many clients to secure compensation for mesothelioma caused by historic talcum powder and make-up use.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma whether due to your past use of talc based products or through exposure to asbestos dust by other means, do contact us at Hodge Jones & Allen on 03300 294 446 or via email at bilradio@hja.net. or complete our online form to discuss your diagnosis of mesothelioma or indeed, any other asbestos related disease. Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is likely to benefit from seeking specialist legal advice as soon as possible. Consulting with our specialist asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers can help patients understand their legal options and taking early action can be crucial in securing justice and compensation for affected individuals and their families and for securing access to novel and wider treatment options.

Host: There are quite a few law firms that specialise in this area, why should someone listening to this conversation contact Hodge Jones & Allen in particular?

Isobel Lovett: At Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors we have decades of experience in helping clients to pursue mesothelioma compensation claims, and we will dedicate our efforts to ensure that you and your family get the help you need and deserve. We understand that the time following a diagnosis with mesothelioma is immensely challenging, so we pride ourselves on providing you with a bespoke service where we can visit you at home or a hospital if required. When helping our clients with their claims for mesothelioma we believe in providing clear and practical advice, but always with empathy and support.

Our specialist mesothelioma claims team will provide expert legal advice to ensure you receive the best support, treatment and the highest level of compensation.

Host: A few quick-fire questions for you Isobel Lovett if that’s okay. The first question is around funding, if a claimant wants to get in touch, you think there’s a case there, and they wish to proceed– what will it cost them?

Isobel Lovett: Importantly, our service is provided on a “no win, no fee” basis, so you need not worry about legal costs. If the claim is successful, you keep 100% of compensation recovered and the Defendant pays your reasonable legal costs. If the claim fails, we make no charge and there will be insurance in place to cover any Defendant’s costs.

The US attorneys we work with charge a percentage of compensation recovered, but only if the claim is successful.

Host: What happens if the person with mesothelioma is no longer alive?

Isobel Lovett: It may still be possible for their personal representative to pursue a claim for their estate and for any dependant family member. In this scenario, the death will normally be referred to a Coroner to investigate and rule on the cause. It is really important that a specialist solicitor is instructed right away, to ensure that evidence is preserved, and to seek the appropriate outcome, which can impact on the claim. Listeners should also be aware that there are strict time limits which apply to these claims, so it is important to seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible.

Host: I’d like to thank Isobel for being with us today, providing advice around a very important topic. As Isobel, mentioned, if you’d like to make an enquiry and learn more about your legal rights, do get in touch with the Asbestos and Workplace Illness team at Hodge Jones & Allen via phone on 0330 822 3451 or via email at bilradio@hja.net. Thank you so much for listening and we look forward to speaking with you again on another episode of The Letter of the Law and the London Legal Podcast.