Mascara: too many preservatives, plastic and even arsenic. Among the worst L'Oréal and Primark

A new test highlights the presence of contaminants including arsenic, mineral oils, plastic and peg in about half of the mascaras analyzed

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A new test compared different mascaras, cosmetics loved by women. What do they really contain? Unfortunately, this time too, the analysis showed the presence of various contaminants, including arsenic.

The German magazine Öko-Test took a sample of 18 mascaras of well-known brands used in Germany (but some of which are also sold in our country) to evaluate whether there were any questionable ingredients in them that, on time, were found.

Index

The test results

Only a third of the mascaras tested are recommended by the magazine while about half of the products are considered unsatisfactory as they contain questionable ingredients.

At the bottom of the ranking end up two products of the L'Oréal (Volume Million Lashes Mascara and the Maybelline the colossal go extreme) as well as the PS 3D Lash Effect mascara from Primark.

Mascara: too many preservatives, plastic and even arsenic. Among the worst L'Oréal and Primark

@ Öko-Test

What was found in the penalized mascaras that ended up at the bottom of the rankings? Let's start with arsenic!

Arsenic

The magazine points out that manufacturers rely primarily on black iron oxide to achieve the color of mascaras. For the production of this oxide natural raw materials containing iron are used, however the problem is that there may be contamination by heavy metals or elements found in the soil.

And that's exactly what the test found for arsenic, which is highly toxic and carcinogenic. Two mascaras were contaminated and one of them, surprisingly, was a natural cosmetics brand. It was Terra Naturi Gold Bigger Volume Mascara, the other mascara with traces of arsenic was the Artdeco Supreme Mascara.

The EU bans the use of this heavy metal in cosmetics in principle, but tolerates it in quantities considered “technically unavoidable” during production. But what is technically avoidable and what is not? The magazine has taken as reference values those established by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

Both of the mascaras reported above exceeded this threshold.

Mineral oils

In addition to iron oxide, many mascaras contain paraffins. The problem is that, as repeatedly reported by the German magazine, these synthetic greases are derived from petroleum and, if not properly purified, can be contaminated with mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH).

The test found traces of Moah in a total of seven mascaras (including Primark, Maybelline and L'Oreal).

Preservatives with unwanted side effects

Since the mascara comes into contact with the lashes every day and considering the danger of bacterial proliferation, the preservation of the products must be particularly effective. Hence the need to use preservatives which however, precisely because they will end up in the eye area, should be delicate and not risky to health.

The magazine found the preservative propylparaben that is suspected to act like a hormone inside a mascara (the Max Factor). The same goes for butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which is an antioxidant found in three products (including Primark mascara), a substance that could act as an endocrine disruptor.

Precisely because of the real risk that mascara is filled with germs, the magazine's experts recall that it should be replaced at least every six months.

Formaledehyde and other allergenic compounds

Öko-Test laboratories also detected formaldehyde releasing agents in a mascara (the NYX On The Rise Volume Liftscara). Formaldehyde is a contact allergen and irritates the mucous membranes even in small quantities.

The organic halogen compounds found in L'Oréal and Maybelline mascaras can also trigger allergies.

PEG

Also found PEG compounds, which can make the skin more permeable to foreign substances. They contained nine mascaras (including Primark's).

Plastic compounds

Öko-Test confirms what was already reported by a previous Greenpeace test we talked about only a few days ago: mascaras contain plastic!

Read also: Plastics and microplastics in cosmetics: Lush, Sephora, Maybelline among the worst. Only Purobio is saved

Plastic compounds can enter the environment through wastewater and some of them degrade very slowly. 10 mascaras already declared their presence on the label, this is more than half of the products tested.

The best mascaras

They come out very well from the test on Benecos Natural Mascara, il dr Hauschka volume mascara il Lavera Butterfly effect and Sante Volume Sensation Mascara.

Mascara: too many preservatives, plastic and even arsenic. Among the worst L'Oréal and Primark