Talc is often maligned as an awful cosmetic ingredient that should be avoided, but I do not agree in the least with that assessment when it comes to makeup products. The concern about talc is not about how it is used in makeup, but, rather, when it is used in pure, large concentrations in the form of talcum powder. Part of the story here dates back to several studies published in the ’90s that found a significant increase in the risk of ovarian cancer from vaginal (perineal) application of talcum powder. (Sources: International Journal of Cancer, May 1999, pages 351-356; Seminars in Oncology, June 1998, pages 255-264; Cancer, June 1997, pages 2396-2401; and American Journal of Epidemiology, March 1997, pages 459-465.)
However, subsequent and concurring studies have cast doubt on the way these studies were conducted and the conclusions they reached. (Sources: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 2000, pages 720-724; Journal of the National Cancer Institute, February 2000, pages 249-252; and Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 1999, pages 372-376.)
None of the research about the use of talc is related to the way women use makeup. There is no indication anywhere that there is any risk for the face when using products that contain talc. That means you need not avoid using eyeshadows, blushes, or face powders that contain talc. But it absolutely means you should consider never using talcum powder on your children or on yourself in the vaginal area. If you still wish to avoid talc in makeup, it is easy enough to do so simply by checking the ingredient list.