InfoCons Study : over 97% of cosmetic products subject to ALERTS pose a chemical risk ! Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons !
InfoCons Study : over 97% of cosmetic products subject to ALERTS pose a chemical risk ! Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons !
As part of the Check What You Buy! Choose Cosmetics Wisely with InfoCons! campaign, InfoCons works to inform and educate consumers about the risks associated with the use of non-compliant cosmetic products identified in the European Alerts found within the InfoCons App, by promoting accurate information that is scientifically grounded and backed by the expertise of specialists in the field.
Over 97% of the alerts concerning cosmetic products relate to a chemical risk, with perfumes, eaux de toilette and personal-care products ranking highest. A total of 5,035 cosmetic products were covered by the study carried out by InfoCons, across four categories of importance to consumers: the notifying country, the country of origin, the type of risk and the type of product.
Cosmetic products are part of every consumer’s daily routine — from perfume and deodorant to shampoo, cream or shower gel. That is precisely why their safety is not a mere detail, but a matter of public health. A total of 5,035 cosmetic products were covered by the study — information that consumers can consult directly and free of charge through the InfoCons App. In the lines below we explain, in terms everyone can understand, who flags these products, where they come from, what risks they involve and the most frequently encountered categories.
1. The country that notified the alerts concerning cosmetic products
The first criterion shows who flags non-compliant cosmetic products at European level. Italy accounts for 60.6% of all notifications, followed at a considerable distance by Hungary (10.9%) and the Czech Republic (10.2%). Romania appears with 2.6% of notifications, evidence of the national authorities’ involvement in protecting consumers.
The concentration of notifications in a small number of countries does not mean the problem is a local one: a non-compliant cosmetic product flagged in one Member State can reach, through online commerce and cross-border distribution, the shelves and shopping baskets of any other country, Romania included.
Explanatory table — top 8 notifying countries:
| Notifying country | Number of alerts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 3,053 | 60.6% |
| Hungary | 548 | 10.9% |
| Czech Republic | 515 | 10.2% |
| Sweden | 177 | 3.5% |
| Romania | 129 | 2.6% |
| Germany | 114 | 2.3% |
| Lithuania | 96 | 1.9% |
| France | 85 | 1.7% |
2. The country of origin of the cosmetic products
The second criterion indicates where the flagged cosmetic products come from. Italy is also the main country of origin, with 33%, followed by France (9.2%), Germany (6.4%), Spain (5.9%), the People’s Republic of China (5.6%) and Poland (5.1%).
One cause for concern is that for 12.5% of the products the country of origin is unknown. The lack of traceability is, in itself, a risk factor: a product with no clear origin is a product about which the consumer does not know who manufactured it, under what conditions, or to what standards.
Explanatory table — top 8 countries of origin:
| Country of origin | Number of alerts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1,661 | 33.0% |
| Unknown | 630 | 12.5% |
| France | 463 | 9.2% |
| Germany | 321 | 6.4% |
| Spain | 298 | 5.9% |
| People’s Republic of China | 282 | 5.6% |
| Poland | 257 | 5.1% |
| United Kingdom | 170 | 3.4% |
3. The type of risk and its effects on health and the environment for cosmetic products
The most important criterion for consumer health concerns the nature of the risk. The picture is unequivocal: chemical risk dominates, being present in 97.6% of alerts. Microbiological risk appears in 1.6% of cases, and environmental risk in 0.4%.
What each type of risk means, concretely, for the consumer with regard to cosmetic products:
Chemical risk — substances that are banned or above legal limits in the product’s composition. The effects range from irritation and allergic contact dermatitis to serious long-term risks: carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive-toxic substances and endocrine disruptors. The most frequently flagged substance in the analysis is butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA / Lilial) — a fragrance compound banned in cosmetic products at European level, associated with allergic reactions and with effects on fertility — present in 82.7% of the alerts analysed. Allergic reactions are mentioned in 11.9% of notifications.
Microbiological risk — contamination of the product with bacteria or fungi. It can cause infections of the skin, eyes or mucous membranes and is particularly dangerous for products applied around the eyes or on irritated skin.
Environmental risk — the presence of persistent substances that do not degrade and that accumulate in water and in living organisms (for example, certain silicone compounds), with an impact on aquatic ecosystems.
Other risks (burns, choking, injuries) — these occur rarely but can be severe: chemical burns from tooth-whitening products with concentrations that are too high, or physical risks related to the packaging or the shape of the product.
4. The type of product
Certain categories of cosmetic products raise the most problems. In the top positions are eau de toilette (18.6%), perfume (11.4%) and fragrances (8.1%). Together, products in the fragrance family account for approximately 41.4% of all alerts.
Next come nail gel (4.4%), deodorant (4.2%), shampoo (3.2%) and shower gel (3.1%). The concentration on fragranced products confirms the direct link with chemical risk: banned or allergenic fragrance compounds are the main cause of notifications.
Explanatory table — top 8 product types:
| Product type | Number of alerts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eau de toilette | 938 | 18.6% |
| Perfume | 576 | 11.4% |
| Fragrances | 406 | 8.1% |
| Nail gel | 220 | 4.4% |
| Deodorant | 210 | 4.2% |
| Shampoo | 161 | 3.2% |
| Shower gel | 154 | 3.1% |
| Hair conditioner | 86 | 1.7% |
Check before you buy — with the InfoCons App
All this information becomes truly useful when it reaches the consumer before the purchase. Through the InfoCons App, available free of charge on mobile phones, every consumer can quickly check products and alerts regarding dangerous products, scan barcodes and stay up to date with the latest notifications. Accurate information is the first and cheapest form of protection.
InfoCons recommendations
To reduce the risks associated with cosmetic products, InfoCons recommends that every consumer:
- Check the product or brand in the InfoCons App before buying.
- Check the label and the list of ingredients. Read the composition (INCI) and avoid products containing substances you cannot identify or that have been flagged as banned.
- Choose products with clear traceability. A product with a correctly stated manufacturer, importer and origin offers more safety than one with no information at all about its provenance.
- Be cautious with perfumes and very cheap products. An extremely low price and unknown brands, especially among fragrances sold online, are most often associated with chemical non-compliances.
- Do not buy products without packaging, a label in Romanian, or the manufacturer’s contact details.
- Keep the receipt and the packaging. They allow you to return the product and exercise your consumer rights.
Signed: The InfoCons Consumer Protection Alerts Department