Study Finds Hidden Toxic Chemicals in 85% of Personal Care Products Tested

Personal care products are part of everyday life. From shampoo and moisturiser to toothpaste, soap and baby products, millions of people use these items without giving much thought to what may be inside them. However, new research is raising concerns about potentially harmful chemicals that may not appear on product labels.

A recent peer-reviewed study examined more than 100 everyday consumer products and found evidence of undisclosed chemicals in a large majority of the items tested. The findings have renewed questions about cosmetic safety, chemical regulation and how much consumers can really learn from an ingredient label.

Study Finds Hidden Chemicals in Everyday Products

Researchers analysed 113 personal care and household products purchased from major retailers. The products included shampoos, soaps, moisturisers, toothpaste, baby products, feminine hygiene products and other commonly used items.

Using a broad chemical screening technique, scientists identified 303 substances that they considered likely to be present in the tested products. Researchers then compared those findings with information on chemicals associated with potential health concerns.

The results were particularly striking because approximately 85% of the products contained chemicals that were not fully disclosed on their labels.

The researchers also found that the products contained, on average, more than three times as many chemicals as consumers might expect from the information provided on their packaging.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health and is available through the American Chemical Society's publication platform: Environmental Health study.

Why Undisclosed Chemicals Matter

Not every chemical detected in a product automatically represents a health risk. Exposure levels, frequency of use, the method of exposure and the characteristics of a particular substance all matter.

Nevertheless, researchers identified compounds associated with concerns including hormone disruption, cancer, reproductive effects and developmental problems.

Among the substances discussed in the research were phthalates, parabens, PFAS and formaldehyde. Some of these chemicals can be deliberately used during manufacturing, while others may enter products unintentionally.

For consumers, the challenge is that a product label may not reveal every substance that is ultimately present in the finished product.

'Natural' and 'Eco' Labels May Not Tell the Whole Story

One of the most concerning aspects of the research was the presence of potentially hazardous substances in products promoted as environmentally friendly or natural.

Around 26% of the products carrying claims such as "eco", "green" or "natural" contained at least one chemical that raised concerns for researchers.

The study also identified examples in which products marketed as "phthalate-free" contained phthalates. Some products promoted as hypoallergenic were found to contain known allergens.

This does not mean that every natural or environmentally friendly product is unsafe. Instead, the findings demonstrate why marketing language should not be treated as a substitute for independent testing.

Consumers often assume that words such as natural, clean, green or hypoallergenic provide a guarantee about chemical composition. In reality, these terms can have limitations and may not provide a complete picture of what is inside a finished product.

Fragrance Can Make Ingredient Labels Difficult to Understand

Another issue highlighted by researchers involves the word "fragrance" or "parfum".

Fragrance ingredients can consist of numerous individual chemicals. Companies may be able to list these substances collectively rather than identifying every component separately, making it difficult for consumers to determine exactly which chemicals they may encounter.

This can be particularly frustrating for people attempting to avoid specific substances because of allergies, sensitivities or concerns about chemical exposure.

A label that simply lists fragrance therefore may provide less information than a consumer expects.

How Can Contamination Happen?

The presence of an undisclosed chemical does not necessarily mean a manufacturer intentionally added it.

Researchers pointed to several possible explanations. A substance could enter a product through contaminated raw materials, chemical reactions during manufacturing or interactions with packaging.

Plastic packaging is another potential source of unwanted compounds. Certain chemicals can migrate from packaging materials into products, particularly under particular storage conditions.

Small businesses may face additional challenges. A company can attempt to create a product using carefully selected ingredients but still receive contaminated materials from a supplier.

This is why stronger testing and clearer regulatory standards could potentially benefit responsible manufacturers as well as consumers.

What Does This Mean for Consumers?

The research does not mean people should immediately throw away every personal care product in their bathroom.

Instead, consumers can take practical steps to reduce unnecessary exposure.

One option is to choose products with shorter and clearer ingredient lists. Avoiding unnecessary fragrances can also be useful for people who want to reduce exposure to potentially problematic fragrance-related compounds.

Consumers may also consider products that use less plastic packaging where practical. However, packaging alone cannot guarantee that a product is free from unwanted chemicals.

Independent ingredient databases can provide another source of information. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, for example, allows consumers to research ingredients and personal care products: EWG Skin Deep.

It is important to remember that databases have limitations. They generally rely on available ingredient information and cannot necessarily identify substances that manufacturers have failed to disclose.

Why Better Product Testing Could Be Important

The researchers argue that stronger oversight and mandatory testing could help address the problem.

One of the central challenges is that consumers generally do not have access to laboratories capable of independently testing everyday products. Reading the label may therefore be the only practical option available to most shoppers.

Public health researchers have previously raised concerns about chemical exposure from personal care products. Earlier testing has also identified substances such as benzene in some consumer products, leading to recalls.

These developments highlight a broader question about how consumer products are regulated and tested before they reach store shelves.

The Bigger Picture

Personal care products are designed to make everyday routines easier, healthier or more comfortable. Consumers reasonably expect manufacturers to provide accurate information about what they are buying.

The latest research suggests that ingredient labels may not always tell the complete story.

For now, consumers can focus on reducing unnecessary exposure rather than trying to eliminate every chemical from their lives. Choosing simpler products, limiting heavily fragranced items and researching ingredients can be sensible steps.

At the same time, responsibility should not fall entirely on individual shoppers. Consumers cannot realistically perform laboratory testing on every shampoo, moisturiser or soap they purchase.

Better manufacturing controls, stronger transparency requirements and more comprehensive product testing could help create a system in which consumers do not need specialist scientific knowledge to make informed choices.

The findings therefore raise an important issue that extends beyond cosmetics. If everyday products can contain chemicals that are not clearly disclosed, greater transparency and independent testing could play an important role in protecting public health.

Source

The information discussed in this article is based primarily on the 2026 peer-reviewed study published through the American Chemical Society, along with background information concerning chemical exposure and personal care product safety.