New Study Examines Unwanted Chemicals in Micellar Water Products
A recent study by the Danish Consumer Council, THINK Chemicals, reviewed micellar water products and found that while some contained potentially harmful substances, many were free from unwanted chemicals.
The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals reviewed the ingredient lists of 30 micellar water products available in supermarkets, stores and online, and rated them based on their contents. Micellar water is a popular type of gentle, no-rinse facial cleanser.
Many of the results were positive, as 13 of the products reviewed were free from unwanted chemicals and received an ‘A’ rating, which is the highest rating given out by the organisation.
5 of the micellar waters however, contained chemicals that were environmentally harmful, suspected endocrine (hormone) disruptors (EDCs), or suspected carcinogens. These received a ‘C’ rating, which is the lowest rating.
The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals highlights that while exposure to these harmful chemicals on their own isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, they can contribute to someone’s overall exposure to harmful chemicals.
We are constantly exposed to a complex cocktail of known and suspected harmful chemicals from multiple sources, including air, water, food and consumer products. Current regulations fail to sufficiently protect people and nature from this combined exposure effect. Read more about the mixture effect in our report ‘Chemical Cocktails: The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it’.
CHEM Trust recommends limiting your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals by reducing the number of products you use and choosing products that are free from harmful chemicals where possible. Look out for products with positive labelling, such as the EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel, and Nordic Swan. Several of the products reviewed in the study that were rated ‘A’ had the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
CHEM Trust supports ongoing efforts to ensure the most hazardous chemicals are not used in consumer products.
Read more about how to reduce your risk of exposure here.
