What is an endocrine disruptor?
An endocrine disruptor is a substance – or a mixture of substances – which interacts with the hormonal system and by this mechanism causes adverse health effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines them as “chemical substances of natural or artificial origin foreign to the organism which can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system and thus induce deleterious effects on this organism or on its descendants. “.
However, endocrine disruption, which is the subject of a great mobilization of scientific research, is subject to controversy. Some stakeholders (NGOs, media or consumer associations) insist that even substances whose impact on health has not been proven be subject to a regulatory ban in application of the precautionary principle. However, none of the substances in question meets the WHO definition.
Certain substances present in cosmetic products, such as parabens, are subject to repeated attacks simply on the basis of an interaction with certain hormone receptors in cell culture models. But no well-founded scientific study has yet confirmed that these hormonal interactions are the cause of harmful effects on human health.
Do L’Oréal Paris skincare products contain endocrine disruptors?
No, L’Oréal Paris skincare does not contain endocrine disruptors according to the official WHO definition.
How does the L’Oréal Paris brand ensure the safety of its ingredients in its face care products?
Because the safety of its consumers is the absolute priority, the issue of endocrine disruptors has been integrated with great seriousness and rigor for 15 years at the heart of L’Oréal’s product safety assessment process.
The substances used in facial care have a safety assessment showing that they do not have the characteristics of endocrine disruptors within the meaning of the WHO. On the basis of the intensity and relevance of weak scientific and societal signals on certain ingredients, L’Oréal may however take the decision to no longer use them in its products or to limit their use while international regulations in force allow their free use.
For the selection of its new ingredients, the group has also set up an important platform of predictive tests. Their innovation dynamic integrates a fundamental principle of anticipation in which no risk, whether scientifically proven or not, or whether it is only perceived by society, is neglected in the assessment of safety. This guarantees its consumers that they can use the products with complete confidence.