This review from Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Timisoara, Romania) covers mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical methods for characterizing cosmetic ingredients, including bioconjugates, preservatives, dyes, allergens, fragrances, and heavy metals, across leave-on and rinse-off product matrices. For heavy metals, the review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature (references 218-228, citing Grosser et al. 2228 and others) and compiles EU/Germany and US regulatory limits in Table 6. It is a secondary review source; it does not report any primary measured concentrations.
Overview
This source page corrects an earlier bulk-ingest routing that erroneously assigned this paper to fish, shellfish, baby sunscreen, and seaweed product categories. Those routings were incorrect: the paper is a cosmetics-only MS methods review. The correct product scope is cosmetic personal care leave-on products (nail polish, face/skin care, foundation/powders/blush) for which heavy metals appear as contaminants or impurities.
Key numbers
Regulatory limits for heavy metals in cosmetic products (Table 6, Serb et al. 2024, citing EU/Germany and USA sources):
| Metal | Limit for cosmetics (EU, Germany) | Limit for cosmetics (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.1 ppm | 1 ppm (colorants) |
| Lead (Pb) | 2 ppm | 20 ppm (colorants); 10 ppm (lipsticks, lip glosses) |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 0.1 ppm | n/a |
| Arsenic (As) | 0.5 ppm | 3 ppm (colorants) |
| Nickel (Ni) | 10 ppm | n/a |
| Chromium (Cr) | n/a | n/a |
| Antimony (Sb) | 0.5 ppm | n/a |
| Cobalt (Co) | n/a | n/a |
Note: values reproduced from Table 6 of the review; ppm = parts per million (mg/kg). “n/a” indicates no limit stated in that jurisdiction column in the source table.
Heavy metals identified as contaminants in cosmetic products by product type (Table 5, Serb et al. 2024):
- Mercury (Hg): creams (antiseptic, skin-lightening) and some mascaras
- Lead (Pb): lipsticks, eyeliners, lip glosses, and hair dyes
- Cadmium (Cd): blush, eyeshadow, and face powders
- Arsenic (As): eyeshadow and face powders
- Nickel (Ni): foundations, eyeshadow, and mascaras
- Chromium (Cr): eyeshadow, lipsticks, and face powders
- Aluminum (Al): foundations, eyeshadow, and mascaras
- Copper (Cu): blush, eyeshadow, and some lipsticks
- Antimony (Sb): blush, eyeshadow, and mascara
- Zinc (Zn): foundations, sunscreens, and face powders
- Manganese (Mn): eyeshadow, blush, and some lipsticks
- Cobalt (Co): hair dyes and some eyeshadows
- Selenium (Se): hair dyes and some face powders
- Barium (Ba): blush, eyeshadow, and face powders
- Beryllium (Be): eyeshadow and face powders
- Thallium (Tl): hair dyes and some face powders
The ICP-MS section (Section 3.5) of the review notes that heavy metals in cosmetics are present as contaminants from impurities in raw materials or the manufacturing process. Grosser et al. [228] is cited as showing that Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Sb levels in lipsticks, nail polishes, and skin creams can be determined by ICP-MS after microwave digestion. All cited values in this paper are secondary (compiled from other studies); no primary measurements were conducted.
Methods (brief)
Literature review of publications 1992-2024 from PubMed and Web of Science. Search terms included “mass spectrometry” combined with “preservatives,” “colorants,” “allergens,” “metals,” and “cosmetic ingredients.” Only peer-reviewed articles in English with full texts available were included. Duplicate removal and qualitative/quantitative evaluation of articles by title, keywords, abstract, year, and main text. 48 pages, 276 references.
Evidence fitness
This review provides a secondary compilation of heavy metal limits and product associations for cosmetic products. It does not provide measured concentrations from primary surveys; for primary measurement data, see Bashir et al. 2025 (nail polish, beauty creams, lipsticks sampled in Pakistan) and Karimi et al. 2015 (nail polishes, Iran). Table 6 of this review is a useful regulatory limit reference for EU/Germany and USA jurisdictions, clearly distinguishing colorant-specific limits from general cosmetic limits for lead and arsenic. The paper’s earlier routing to fish, shellfish, baby sunscreen, and seaweed was an error; this correction routes it to cosmetic product categories.
Limitations
Secondary source only; all heavy metal data are compiled from cited primary studies rather than measured in this paper. Table 6 does not cite the specific regulatory instruments for each limit, making independent verification necessary. No primary concentration measurements are available in this source.
Related evidence
- Manicuring preparations that remain on nails/skin (basecoats, polishes/enamels, cuticle softeners/creams)
- Face/neck leave-on skin care (moisturizers, serums, night creams, leave-on masks)
- Makeup — foundation, powders, blush/rouge
- Mercury, Total
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Arsenic, Total
- Nickel
- Chromium
Update history
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