A new report from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) warns that almost 300 cosmetic products on the European market contain harmful chemicals, including those that threaten fertility, may cause cancer, or persist indefinitely in the environment.
The alarming findings affect a wide range of products—from eyeliners and lip liners to hair conditioners and masks—raising concerns for consumers across Europe.
Alarming Findings: "Forever Chemicals" and More
The ECHA report details that out of nearly 4,500 products examined, 285—approximately 6%—were found to contain chemicals that are either harmful to health or environmentally damaging.
According to Der Spiegel, many of these products contain “forever chemicals” like perfluorononyl dimethicone and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), which do not break down naturally and can accumulate in the environment.
These substances are banned in cosmetics across Europe due to potential links to fertility issues and cancer.
The ECHA's investigation spanned 13 countries, including Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Italy, where national authorities have since removed some problematic products from the market.
Further investigations are ongoing.
What Consumers Can Do
ECHA advises consumers to carefully check ingredient lists on cosmetics for chemicals such as PFAS (like perfluorononyl dimethicone) and D5.
These harmful substances were detected in products across all price ranges.
For now, consumers are encouraged to stay informed about potentially dangerous ingredients and opt for products with transparent, safer formulations until further restrictions are enforced.
