Laboratory analysis of cosmetics according to ISO/TR 17276

Industrialists of the cosmetic field, you wish to analyze the heavy metals in your products according to ISO 17276?

What is a heavy metal and why analyze it?

Heavy metals are not present as ingredients in cosmetic formulations but may appear as impurities, mostly from raw materials or manufacturing processes.

Some heavy metals are prohibited; for others, the presence of very small quantities or traces can be tolerated provided that there is no health risk (although this is not always proven…).

Moreover, the analytical methods used to verify the concentrations of heavy metals are not yet well harmonized, making it more difficult to set precise limits. Moreover, it is in this context that ISO 17276 is being implemented.

What is ISO/TR 17276?

ISO/TR 17276 is a document presenting the analytical methods to be used to detect and quantify heavy metals in cosmetics. Heavy metals can be analyzed in raw materials as well as in finished products.

The ISO/TR presents different techniques including colorimetry and plasma torch spectrometry coupled to mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), etc…

 Thus, the objective of ISO 17276 is not to define or suggest limits of acceptable concentrations of heavy metals in raw materials and finished products but to describe the advantages and disadvantages of each analytical technique.

FILAB supports you in the analysis of heavy metals according to ISO 17276

FILAB laboratory offers you its expertise and its state-of-the-art analytical equipment (ICP-MS, ICP-AES, SAA, mercury analyzer / amalgamator) for the elemental analysis of heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, antimony…) and the determination of heavy metals on all types of cosmetic products.

For more than 30 years, our laboratory has been offering a wide range of analytical services for the cosmetics industry, including

Examples of services

  • Determination of heavy metals or catalyst traces in packaging and packaging materials

  • Inorganic chemical analysis

  • Analysis of undesirable substances on raw materials and finished products: residual solvents, phthalates, bisphenol A, 1,4 dioxane, nitrosamines, siloxanes D4/D4/D6...

  • Quantitative analysis of heavy metals in finished cosmetic products by ICP-MS: lipstick, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliners...

  • Deformation of products

  • Expertise on non-conformities: particles, deposits, unknown peaks, degradation of materials... 

The positive aspects of FILAB

  • A highly qualified team

  • Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests

  • A complete analytical park of 2100m²

  • Tailor-made support

Anaïs DECAUX
Anaïs DECAUX Customer Support Manager
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