Nano and cosmetics
Dossier: Nanos in cosmetics
By the AVICENN team – Last modification July 2024
Almost all cosmetic products contain nanos: toothpastes, sunscreens, anti-aging creams, foundations, nail polishes, mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, hair dyes, blushes, powders, soaps, shower gels, deodorants…
These nanos are mainly colorants, texture agents, antibacterial or UV filters.
Despite the labeling obligation (theoretically in force in Europe since 2013, but insufficiently applied) and the publication of a pseudo “catalog” by the European Commission in 2017 / 2019, the precise identification of nanoparticles in cosmetics is still very difficult today for consumers and health authorities, unless they resort to laboratory analysis.
Due to a lack of reliable data, their associated health risks are still poorly identified and assessed.
As for the risks to the environment, they are still insufficiently taken into account by the risk assessment and regulating authorities.
Where are nanos in cosmetics, what are they used for, how can they be detected and can they be replaced? How are they managed in France and in Europe? What are their risks to human health and ecosystems? These information sheets explore these different questions and will be enriched as we continue to monitor and receive your contributions.
The information sheets in this section
Other news on the topic
Upcoming Nano Agenda
- Thematic school of the NaMasTE research group (Manufactured Nanomaterials, Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and Risks: towards controlled development)
- Public: engineers, researchers (contract and permanent), PhD students, industrialists and members of associations working on nanomaterials.
- The program includes the physical chemistry, biology and environmental sciences needed to understand the key aspects involved in the controlled development of nanomaterials.
→ Safer-by-design approaches, which integrate analysis of the production, characterization of properties, fate, and impacts (beneficial or harmful) of nanomaterials and products containing them throughout their life cycle - Dates: October 5 to 10, 2025
- Organizers: CNRS
- Website: https://namaste.sciencesconf.org
- Training intended for occupational physicians, occupational risk prevention specialists (IPRP), company prevention specialists, prevention department staff from Carsat, Cramif and CGSS, institutional prevention specialists (Dreets, Dreal, MSA…).
- Organizer: French National institute of research and security (INRS)
- October 6 to 10, 2025
- Website: www.inrs.fr/…/formation/…JA1030_2025
- 3pm – Conference by Irène Frachon on her fight to reveal the dangers of Mediator, the difficulties encountered by whistleblowers in the face of institutional and industrial pressure, and the importance of their role in defending public health.
- 4pm – Round table on the manipulation of scientific information and the defense of whistleblowers moderated by Raphaël Lévy (professor of physics at Sorbonne Paris Nord University, specialist in nanoparticles and their uses in biology, coordinator of the ERC NanoBubbles project dedicated to research into the corrective mechanisms of science), with :
- Maud Bernisson, post-doctoral fellow at LISIS (CNRS), member of the ERC NanoBubbles project, on the mechanisms of influence of pharmaceutical companies in the scientific field.
- Marc Samama, professor, anesthesiologist, co-chairman of the Commission des blocs et plateaux techniques de la CME de l’AP-HP, past Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Anaesthesiology, director of the Office de l’Intégrité Scientifique de l’AP-HP.
- Solène Lellinger, Senior Lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Health at Paris Cité University, specializing in the socio-history of medicines and their intersection with medical practices, and in particular the ways in which knowledge and information about medicines are produced.
- Cécile Barrois de Sarigny, Deputy Ombudsman in charge of whistleblower protection.
- With the support of the ERC Synergy NanoBubbles project
- Website: https://u-paris.fr/sante/irene-frachon-a-paris-une-conference-et-une-table-ronde-sur-lintegrite-scientifique
Any questions or comments? This information sheet compiled by AVICENN is intended to be completed and updated. Please feel free to contribute.
This file was originally created in February 2019