Controversial Nano-Ingredients found in Big Name Brands
(Clinique, Clarins, L’Oréal,Revlon, The Body Shop, Max Factor, Lancôme Paris and By Terry)
 Scientific testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth Australia and carried out by the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility has found:
• Concealers, foundations and mineral foundations sold by 8 leading brands contained particles measuring less than 100nm in size (Clinique, Clarins, L’Oréal,Revlon, The Body Shop, Max Factor, Lancôme Paris and By Terry)
• A further 2 products contained particles that measured 100nm (Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior)
Furthermore, Friends of the Earth has found:
• 7 of the cosmetics tested contained ingredients known to act as ‘penetration enhancers’, making it more likely that nanoparticles will be taken up into the ski.
• The 3 cosmetics that did not contain penetration enhancers were mineral foundations, which pose greater inhalation risks due to their powdered form.
• Only one of the brands surveyed (Christian Dior) indicated the use of nanoingredients on the product label. Failing to label nano-ingredients denies consumers the capacity to make an informed choice
 What is Nanoparticals?
Nanoparticles are extremely small particles manufactured using nanotechnology. Nanoparticles are generally defined as measuring around 1-100 nanometres (nm) in one or more dimensions (70 times smaller than a red blood cell). Nanoparticles are now used in Worlds cosmetics, sunscreens, ‘health’ supplements, clothing, appliances and more.
Does it safe to use NonoParticals?
The long-term health risks of nanoparticles remain poorly understood. The likely exposure in ‘real life’ conditions is also unknown. But early studies have suggested that if exposure is high enough, nanoparticles now used by the cosmetics industry could cause lung damage, cell toxicity, damage DNA, and possibly even harm unborn children.
Production of free radicals by nanoparticles used in sunscreens and cosmetics is greater when exposed to UV light. Last year, in relation to nano-sunscreens, the director of CSIRO’s Nanosafety research program warned and Report that: “the worst case
scenario, I suspect, could be development of cancer. But we don't know. That's what we're trying to find out”. Dr McCall cautioned that CSIRO’s research will take another two years.
Whats Actions are taken for Nanoparticals by Law?
In 2004, the United Kingdom’s Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific institution, recommended that given the evidence of serious nanotoxicity risks, nanoparticles should be treated as new chemicals and subject to new safety assessments before being
allowed in consumer products. It also recommended that nano-ingredients in products should be labelled, to give people the chance to make an informed choice.
Europe has passed new laws that will require most nano-ingredients in sunscreens cosmetics to face new safety testing and mandatory labeling. Yet where substances have been approved for use as larger particles, USA laws do not make companies test for
safety before using these substances as nanoparticles, nor to label nano-ingredients.
Results of cosmetics testing for nanoparticle content – Commissioned by Friends of the Earth Australia, carried out by the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility
| Brand |
Type of Cosmetic |
Product |
Nanoparticle Content |
Probable Chemical Composition |
Penetration Enhancers |
| By Terry |
Mineral Foundation |
Light-expert compact |
50-100nm |
Aluminum iron, titanium dioxide |
No penetration enhancers identified |
| Christian Dior |
Foundation |
Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF
25 |
100-200nm spheroids
200-600nm rods (length) |
Titanium dioxide Iron oxide |
Octinoxate, tetrasodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol |
| Clarins |
Foundation |
Truly Matte Foundation Light Reflecting
SPF 15 |
100nm rods (length), 100-200nm plates
(length) |
Alumino-silicate oxides |
Disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol |
| Clinique |
Concealer |
Line smoothing concealer |
50-300nm spheroids |
Titanium and aluminum
oxides, some copper and
silicon
Iron oxide |
Disodium EDTA, hexylene
glycol |
Lancôme
Paris |
Concealer |
Long lasting softening
concealer SPF 12 |
20-80nm spheroids |
Aluminum oxide |
Propylene glycol, urea,
disodium EDTA |
| L'Oréal |
Foundation |
Visible lift lifting antiwrinkle
foundation SPF 15 |
80nm spheroids
400nm to 1μm rods
(length) |
Titanium oxide
Aluminum/ iron oxide |
Glyceryl isostearate, octinoxate,
denatured alcohol (ethanol),
phenoxyethanol |
Max
Factor |
Mineral
Foundation |
Natural Minerals
Foundation |
80nm spheroids
200nm-450nm rods
(length) |
Aluminium oxide with
high phosphor content
Iron oxide rods |
Ingredients not listed |
| Revlon |
Concealer |
Revlon Age Defying Spa
Concealer |
50-80nm spheroids
300-500nm rods (length) |
Titanium oxides
Aluminium/ iron oxide |
Tribehenin, tetrasodium EDTA,
phenoxyethanol |
The Body
Shop |
Mineral
Foundation |
Nature's Minerals
Foundation SPF 25 |
30-100nm spheroids
80-600nm rods (length) |
Titanium
Iron oxide |
No penetration enhancers
identified |
Yves
Saint
Laurent |
Concealer |
Anti-cernes multi-action
concealer |
100-500nm spheroids |
Aluminium oxide or
silicon oxide – test
inconclusive |
Lecithin, ricinus communis
(castor seed oil), citric acid |
|
|
|
