Cadmium in cosmetics: should we be concerned?

Cadmium, in brief.

Cadmium is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment, but its concentrations have greatly increased due to human activities. It is introduced into agricultural soils via phosphate fertilizers, which are produced from rocks that are naturally rich in cadmium. Once present in soils, it can be taken up by plants and then enter the food chain. Today, this is the main route of exposure for the general population.

According to ANSES, diet accounts for up to 98% of cadmium exposure in non-smoking individuals.

Everyday foods such as cereals, potatoes, and certain root vegetables contribute to this, which makes exposure difficult to avoid completely. Biomonitoring data show that this exposure is far from negligible. In France, nearly half of all adults have urinary cadmium concentrations above the critical threshold, and average body burden has almost doubled over roughly ten years. Children are also affected, with about one quarter of them exceeding the tolerable daily intake by ingestion. Smoking is a major aggravating factor, because cigarette smoke contains cadmium in the form of inhaled particles, which significantly increases the body burden.

Cadmium is of particular concern because of its ability to accumulate in the body.

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10–30 years

for the cadmium concentration in the body to decrease by half.

This bioaccumulation leads to long-term effects, particularly on the kidneys, bones, and cardiovascular system. Several studies have also established associations with an increased risk of certain cancers (pancreatic, prostate, breast), as well as with fertility disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders. The widespread exposure to cadmium is therefore a subject of growing health concerns, including in the field of cosmetics.

Are there risks of cadmium contamination in cosmetics?

Cadmium is prohibited as an ingredient in cosmetics.

In other words, it is not deliberately added to formulations. However, as with other heavy metals, it can be found in trace amounts, as an impurity originating from certain raw materials, particularly mineral pigments, or from the manufacturing process. The issue is therefore not so much intentional addition as unintentional contamination, generally at very low concentrations and regulated by law.

Several studies have indeed demonstrated the presence of cadmium in cosmetics, but with highly variable levels depending on the products, brands, and countries. For example, a study conducted in Bangladesh on moisturizing creams showed average cadmium concentrations of 3.23 ppm, with some products exceeding the limits set by the WHO or the European Union (3 ppm), while still remaining broadly within thresholds considered acceptable. The authors emphasize that, even if the immediate risk appears low, repeated exposure could lead to a gradual accumulation of these metals in the body.

Conversely, other studies report much lower concentrations. A study conducted on 13 cosmetic products (lipsticks, foundations, eyeliners) available on the Saudi market detected cadmium in all samples, but at very low levels, around 0.02 ppm on average, well below the thresholds set by the WHO. An analysis comparing different European makeup products also showed that cadmium concentrations were well below regulatory limits.

Overall, scientific data indicate that cadmium contamination of cosmetics is possible, especially in makeup products, but that it remains low and contributes only marginally to total daily exposure, which is largely dominated by diet.

> 98%

of daily cadmium exposure comes from food.

< 2%

of daily cadmium exposure comes from cosmetics.

Is cadmium hazardous when applied topically?

Several studies have sought to determine whether topical exposure to cadmium could produce adverse effects, similar to those observed with ingestion. To date, available data remain limited, but some studies provide interesting points for consideration. One study conducted in 252 women with dermatoses (rosacea, eczema and seborrheic dermatitis), compared with 102 women without any such conditions, analyzed both the cosmetic products used (lipsticks, powders, eyeliners, eyeshadows) and various biomarkers, particularly serum, the blood fraction from which cells and clotting proteins have been removed.

The results show that cadmium is detected in all of the products tested, with concentrations ranging from 0.40 to 0.76 ppm in powders, 1.63 to 2.30 ppm in lipsticks, 1.05 to 3.60 ppm in eyeliners, and 1.05 to 4.53 ppm in eyeshadows, with some values exceeding the 3 ppm threshold cited by the WHO. From a biological standpoint, women with dermatoses exhibit significantly higher cadmium concentrations than the controls, as well as hair concentrations approximately two to three times higher.

2.28 to 3.46 µg/L

Cadmium levels in the serum of female participants with dermatosis between 16 and 35 years of age.

1.03 to 1.50 µg/L

Cadmium levels in the serum of participants without dermatosis between 16 and 35 years of age.

2.83 to 4.15 µg/L

Cadmium levels in the serum of participants with dermatosis aged 36 to 50 years.

1.18 to 1.80 µg/L

Cadmium levels in the serum of participants without dermatosis between 36 and 50 years of age.

These results suggest that cadmium may be involved in certain skin imbalances.

From a mechanistic point of view, cadmium can interact with skin proteins via thiol (-SH) groups and induce oxidative stress that can damage cells. However, its penetration through the skin remains limited: it is estimated that only about 0.5% of applied cadmium is actually absorbed, mainly in cases of prolonged exposure or at high concentrations, which suggests that the contribution of cosmetics to overall exposure remains low.

However, it is important to remain cautious and emphasize that this study does not make it possible to establish a direct causal link between the use of cosmetics containing cadmium and the onset of dermatoses. In the current state of scientific knowledge, topical application appears to be a secondary route of exposure, whose impact remains limited compared with other environmental sources, particularly food.