Microplastics: A group of substances everyone is talking about – and on every hair?

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Nov 29, 2018 - Cosmetics

Microplastics: A group of substances everyone is talking about – and on every hair?

Microplastic is currently one of the most discussed groups of substances in the media. Microplastics are defined as plastics with a size between 1µm and 5mm. Microplastics are considered to be a health concern, but the exact risks are not yet fully assessable. At the same time, microplastics, even though the trend is declining, can be found everywhere, whether in food, consumer goods, or cosmetics.

The latter product group has been addressed by the magazine Öko-Test in its current issue (11/2018), which tested various hair treatments for microplastics. The test was not conducted chemically, but by examining the product's declaration for synthetic polymers.

It is gratifying that no solid microplastic particles, which are often used as peeling granules, were found in the tested products. However, different synthetic polymers, such as PEG/PEG derivatives or silicones, were found in various hair treatments. Some of the tested products also contained other ingredients, such as phthalates or corresponding preservatives, which led to point deductions in the evaluation.

A total of 17 products were rated as very good or good. Of these, 8 products (all tested from this area) were from the field of natural cosmetics. At the same time, however, 4 products were rated as insufficient. In addition to microplastics, these also always contained other factors that led to a downgrade.

The exact test results, as well as further information on hair treatments and microplastics in general, can be found in the current Öko-Test issue (11/2018).