Tested were Halloween makeup sets, lipsticks, and fake blood, which were purchased in branches of well-known chains. Five of the 15 products contained various plastics that, after being washed off the skin, enter the wastewater and can only be poorly degraded there. They were therefore rated as only conditionally recommendable. Five others received the worst rating „not recommendable“: They contained substances such as Imidazolidinyl Urea, which releases formaldehyde classified as carcinogenic, Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Methylparaben, or Propylparaben.

These substances can act like hormones in the body. For example, BHT is suspected of restricting thyroid function as well as growth and fertility in living beings, informed the consumer protectors. Methylparaben is associated with changes in the sexual organs and a decline in sperm quality in animals. However, the European health authority EFSA classifies the hormonal risk from cosmetics as negligible because the substances only enter the bloodstream very slowly and in minimal amounts through human skin.

The prices ranged from 2.79 euros for the cheapest makeup set to 12.99 euros for half a liter of fake blood. A connection between quality and price could only be established to a limited extent. While the five best-rated products were relatively expensive in comparison, when calculating the price per milligram or milliliter of content, they were sometimes even in the affordable range.

The consumer protectors advise carefully reading what is stated on the packaging: Some products are not suitable for children and are only approved from a certain age, others must be tested on a small skin area before being applied extensively, and some should not come near the eyes and lips. Using the barcode, you can scan the products with the Toxfox app for hormonally suspicious pollutants, nanoparticles, PFAS, microplastics, and other plastics.

(APA)

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