Although nanotechnology has featured in cosmetic formulations for many years, there are only
a handful of technologies used, mainly liposomes, nanoemulsions and metal oxide
nanoparticles. These offer advantages and improved characteristics compared with traditional
formulations. Many of the newer technologies being investigated for drug delivery may also
have applications in cosmetics. Along with the formulations discussed in this report,
nanoparticles of silver, copper, silicone and silica have been reported as ingredients for
cosmetics. A number of companies also claim to use fullerenes in their products due to the
radical scavenging properties
It should be assumed that research in this area is being affected by calls for bans and a
moratorium on nanotechnology based cosmetic products by many organisations. This has led to
reluctance to talk about nanotechnology in cosmetics by a number of organisations.
A list of products claiming to use nanomaterials has been compiled in the report
‘Nanomaterials, sunscreens and cosmetics: Small ingredients, big risks’
report was published in Cosmetics & Toiletries Magazine in January 2009
Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory, run by the Project on Emerging
Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, aims to list all
nanotechnology-based consumer products available. However, current regulation of cosmetics
means that these products may or may not actually be using nanomaterials, and there may be
many more that do.
Which?, the UK-based consumer group, published a report titled “Small Wonder?
Nanotechnology and Cosmetics” in November 2008
cosmetics companies about their use of nanotechnology. Only eight companies agreed to give
details of their products. This could indicate a worrying silence and concealment of the use of
nanomaterials in cosmetic products. The report highlighted a lack of information available on
nanoscale ingredients in cosmetics and the safety concerns about this. They proposed the
development of new regulation for reporting and assessing the use of nanomaterials in
cosmetics.
Updated regulation and increased information sharing has also been called for by the SCCP (EU
Scientific Committee on Consumer Products) and the European Commission. Recently, MEPs
approved updates on cosmetic legislation
and will come into effect from 2012. The new regulations introduce a safety assessment
procedure for all products containing nanomaterials, which could lead to a ban on a substance
if there is a risk to human health. Also, any nanomaterials present in cosmetics must be
mentioned in the list of ingredients on the packaging. The establishment of an official EU-wide
register for cosmetics was also proposed.
Toxicity of nanomaterials is currently the subject of an increasing amount of research. Further
investigation by academia and industry is required before materials can be deemed as safe.
This research, along with better regulation and reporting, will enable consumers to choose
products with confidence. This in turn will allow companies to benefit from these novel
technologies in the long term while retaining customer confidence.67. However, there are concerns over their toxicity.68. (A response to this69). The70. In this they contacted a number of71. The changes apply across all 27 member states
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