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
- Webinar presenting the example guide produced by NanoMesureFrance, to illustrate the difficulties encountered in dimensional analysis of particles by electron and atomic force microscopy.
- Organizers: Eurotox
- Speaker: Carola Voss (Helmholtz Zentrum München)
- Registration form
- MOOC from April 28 to June 22, 2025
- Public who has carried out two or more years of scientific studies at university, as well as professionals or the self-educated who want to discover, learn more or acquire specific knowledge in some area of nanoscience.
- Organizer: Paris Saclay University
- Course paln:
- Theme 1: Introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology – Let’s lay the foundations and discover the key concepts of this field.
- Theme 2: How can you “see” and fabricate nano-objects? We will discover what tools are used to observe matter at these scales and what techniques the scientist can use to make objects that are only a few billionths of a meter in size.
- Theme 3: Nanochemistry – From carbon to porous solids and nanoparticle synthesis; applications of the field.
- Theme 4: Nanophysics – Quantum effects and nanoelectronic devices; optical nanostructures: the confinement of light and emission; nanosensors; applications of the field.
- Theme 5: Nanobiology, Nanomedicine, Micro-nanofluidics – The study and manipulation of molecules; treating diseases with nanomedicine; the on-chip manipulation of liquids for medical diagnosis; applications of the field.
- Theme 6: Nanoscience and Society: Are Nanotechnologies dangerous? Societal, health and environmental issues.
- Website: www.fun-mooc.fr/en/courses/understanding-nanosciences
- E-learning program: awareness-raising for personnel who come into contact with nanomaterials during research, formulation, production, maintenance, cleaning, upkeep, etc., as well as safety coordinators or engineers, facility managers, heads of laboratories where nanoparticles are handled.
- Organizers: INSTN Grenoble (CEA)
- On the program:
- 1 – Introduction, definition and characteristics of nanomaterials
- 2 – Toxicity of nanomaterials: the state of knowledge
- 3 – Metrology and characterization of nanomaterials
- 4 – Prevention and protection against nanomaterials in the workplace
- 5 – Quiz: assessment of learning outcomes
- The 2-hour course can be viewed for one month from the date of registration.
- Website: https://instn.cea.fr/…risques-lies-aux-nanomateriaux…
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