Recently, the Hong Kong Consumer Council tested 30 popular lipstick and lip gloss brands and found that 80% of the samples contained mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) mixtures that can accumulate in the human body. Among them, four samples had high levels of long-chain MOSH, which did not meet the recommended safe limits in Europe.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council’s testing revealed that 24 samples contained MOSH that can accumulate in the human body. Among the lipsticks with high levels of long-chain MOSH mixtures, the OPERA sample had a detection rate of 20.48%, followed by GUCCI at 18%, MAC at 11.69%, and CHANEL at 11.4%. Five lipsticks, including LANCÔME, YSL, GIORGIO ARMANI, and GUCCI, had high levels of short-chain MOSH mixtures and their equivalents, ranging from 5.1% to 17.8%.
GIVENCHY and REVLON were among the five brands that had traces of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). The Consumer Council stated that although the detected MOAH does not raise concerns of carcinogenicity, the long-term health risks are still subject to further research due to insufficient data on their oral toxicity.
International animal studies have indicated that the accumulation of MOSH in the body may be associated with the formation of tiny granulomas in tissues such as the liver and lymph nodes. The Consumer Council called on manufacturers to review the raw materials and production processes of their products and minimize or eliminate mineral oil substances and their equivalents, as well as allergenic heavy metals and fragrance substances.
In response, the manufacturer of GUCCI stated to the Consumer Council that the tested products comply with all existing regulations, and they pointed out that the instruments and methods used by the Consumer Council cannot clearly distinguish the source of MOSH, leading to inaccurate results.
The brand owner of CHANEL stated that the products available on the market have undergone safety assessments and skin tolerance tests. According to reports from research institutions in the European Union, the current level of MOSH intake through dietary means does not pose health problems. However, the company will regularly review product formulations and is currently planning to study reformulated lipstick formulas to reduce the proportion of MOSH-containing ingredients.
The supplier of MAKE UP FOR EVER stated that they will study ways to reduce allergenic ingredients or substances in their products and consider adding appropriate labeling for product expiration dates. The brand groups of LANCÔME, YSL, and GIORGIO ARMANI stated that the mineral oil components used in their products have undergone purification processes, and their purity meets pharmaceutical-grade standards. The quality of the ingredients complies with EU regulations and the recommendations of the European Cosmetics Association.
