A study by Inserm reveals that a temporary reduction in cosmetic use is enough to rapidly decrease the presence of several chemical pollutants in the body. Conducted with around one hundred female students in Grenoble, aged 18 to 30, the experiment involved limiting the use of skincare products for five days and replacing their usual hygiene products with alternatives free of synthetic phenols, parabens, phthalates, and glycol ethers.
Urine analyses performed before and after this period showed significant decreases: -22% for monoethyl phthalate, -30% for methylparaben, and -39% for bisphenol A (BPA), which has been banned in cosmetics in France since 2005. The researchers believe that the residual presence of BPA could originate from contamination during manufacturing or via packaging.
According to Inserm, these results reinforce the idea of stricter regulations governing the composition of skincare products and their production processes. The study comes as the European Parliament is soon to vote on a revision of cosmetic regulations, a text criticized by some consumer associations who fear a weakening of user protections.
 Sophie de Duiéry
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22/04/2026 | 
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