Peeling in short: Öko-Test examined 50 products and found substances that are harmful to the environment and health. These are the losers.
- A peeling is said to make the skin smooth and silky.
- Many peelings now do without microplastics.
- But Öko-Test has found substances that are harmful to the environment and health in cosmetics.
Dortmund - flawless and silky smooth skin - who doesn't dream of it? We do a lot for a soft skin feeling - with creams, masks and peeling products we should feel comfortable in our skin again. A peeling removes dead skin cells and can even stimulate blood circulation, as RUHR24.de * reports.
Öko-Test examines peeling products: substances that are harmful to health and the environment
Some time ago, this pleasing beauty result still required small plastic balls - so-called and environmentally harmful microplastics . The times are over, however. Since microplastics are becoming increasingly discredited, the cosmetics industry has committed itself to avoiding the small plastic particles.
Mineral abrasive particles are used instead: sugar, coffee, salt, apricot or almond kernels have become popular alternatives. However, this does not mean that every peeling is particularly environmentally friendly for the body. This is exactly what Öko-Test examined and came to the conclusion that there are still test losers who rely on substances that are harmful to the environment and health.
For the test, the consumer magazine bought 50 body scrubs , including 15 natural cosmetics - and 35 conventional products from brands such as Rituals, Alverde, Kneipp or Nivea and had the ingredients evaluated in a laboratory. The price range of the peels tested ranges from 76 cents to 33.60 euros.
Öko-Test finds mineral oil in peeling
Although 25 products were absolutely convincing and scored "very good", there were also some test losers. Six of the peels tested fail with "poor" or even "insufficient". This also includes well-known brands such as Yves Rocher .
The main criticisms of Öko-Test are soluble plastic compounds , problematic fragrances and substances that can make the skin vulnerable. The testers even detected mineral oil in a peeling .
Peeling products rarely do without plastic
Microplastics are now history with peelings - however, according to the Öko-Test, they don't get along completely without plastic . Because a third of the peeling products tested contain silicones or other synthetic polymers.
These substances are not called microplastics , but they are soluble plastic compounds. Like microplastics , these substances pollute the environment, they can contaminate soil and water.
Öko-Test: questionable fragrances in peels
The questionable fragrances that Öko-Test was able to prove could be problematic for consumers. Lilial, a substance that smells of lily of the valley, is in five peels and is suspected of possibly impairing fertility. The substance has also been classified as unsafe by the Consumer Protection Committee for Cosmetics in the European Union.
Artificial musk scents can settle in the adipose tissue, they are in three tested peelings . In addition, Öko-Test has been able to demonstrate the allergenic fragrance hydroxycitronellal in the laboratory.
Mineral oil in a peeling: suspected of cancer!
Öko-Test found paraffins in a body scrub - they are made from petroleum . The fabric leaves a delicate feeling on the skin , but adapts well to the balance of the skin .
In addition, paraffins often contain mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHA). According to the Öko-Test , it cannot be ruled out that MOHA also hides compounds that are carcinogenic. The substance formaldehyde is also suspected of being cancer.
Yves Rocher's peeling fabric irritates the mucous membranes and can cause allergies
Even small amounts of formaldehyde irritate the mucous membranes and can also trigger allergies . So much of the substance was found in the Yves Rocher plant peeling apricot kernel powder that Öko-Test downgraded the body peeling as the only four notes.
In 19 peelings , the testers found substances (PEG compounds) that can make the skin more permeable to foreign substances. In combination with the desired peeling effect, this is particularly worrying.
Well-known brands such as Nivea or Palmolive have failed Öko-Test
Despite criticism and losers in the test, a whopping 25 peels were convincing and were awarded the rating "very good" - including conventional cosmetics and natural cosmetics. Brands such as Kneipp , Lavera , the own brands of the drugstores Müller , Rossmann or dm convinced the testers in the laboratory.
Brands are also among the losers, which are likely to be found in many bathrooms:
- Nivea care shower peeling cream peeling (poor)
- PS. Coconut Exfoliate & Cleanse Body Scrub - Primark (poor)
- Ahava Deadsea Salt Softening Butter Salt Scrub (insufficient)
- Kiehl's Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub Grapefruit (insufficient)
- Palmolive Aroma Sensations Mineral Massage shower gel peeling (insufficient)
- Yves Rocher plant peeling apricot kernel powder (insufficient)
Video: Öko-Test checks face creams - brand creams fail with "insufficient"
The manufacturer Beirsdorf has announced that the fragrance Lilial should be dispensed with in the second quarter of 2020. The recipe for the Nivea cream peels should therefore be revised. The entire test result can be read at Öko-Test. May
* RUHR24.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network