They are available with mineral earth or in the peel-off version with plastic: cleansing masks for the face that are intended to ensure a fine complexion. But sometimes there are also harmful substances in it.
Cologne – Plastic beats mineral earth: In the magazine “Öko-Test” (November 2022 issue), which examined a total of 25 cleansing masks for the face – including face masks with mineral earth as well as so-called peel-off masks.
The latter contain the plastic polyvinyl alcohol, turn into a removable layer on the skin – and were rated “very good” or “good” by the testers in nine out of ten cases. In one product they found the artificial musk scent Galaxolide, which can accumulate in fatty tissue. Here the ecological test verdict was “unsatisfactory”.
Testers find traces of heavy metals
However, out of a total of 14 masks with mineral clay, four failed as “insufficient”, three received the verdict “inadequate”. The reason: they are contaminated with harmful heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium or lead. In its inorganic form, arsenic and cadmium are carcinogenic, and lead is toxic.
The heavy metals can occur naturally in clay, medicinal or mineral soils. Traces of it are therefore permissible – if they cannot be avoided technically. However, eleven of the masks tested also exceeded one or more limit values specified by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) for this case.
According to the testers, this does not mean that the products automatically pose a health risk to consumers. Nevertheless, their conclusion is: “The levels have to go down.” Finally, four of the mineral earth masks were also rated “very good”, all of them certified natural cosmetic products. dpa
