Belgium’s consumer rights organisation Testachats has raised concerns over the safety of clay beauty masks after discovering that all ten tested products contained traces of heavy metals. The findings, published on Wednesday, underscore a regulatory gap in Belgium and across the European Union.
Testachats highlighted that there are currently no binding Belgian or EU regulations specifying acceptable thresholds for heavy metal content in cosmetic products such as clay masks. This lack of clear standards leaves manufacturers responsible for self-regulating and ensuring safety.
To assess the results, Testachats relied on technical guidelines developed by Germany’s Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). The BVL provides reference limits for several harmful heavy metals, including antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium, mercury and nickel.
Among the ten products examined were clay masks from well-known brands such as Neutrogena, Kiko, Khiels, Garnier and My Clarins. Every one of them contained measurable traces of at least one heavy metal, though the levels varied.
Testachats explained that these substances can naturally occur in clay, which is extracted from mineral-rich soils. However, natural presence does not eliminate the need for rigorous monitoring during sourcing and production.
Julie Frère, spokesperson for Testachats, stressed that the presence of heavy metals does not automatically translate into immediate danger for consumers. She noted that clay masks are rinsed off after a short period, reducing the potential for harmful exposure.
Still, Frère insisted that manufacturers must work to reduce contamination to the lowest technically achievable level. Allowing unnecessary impurities in cosmetic formulas, she said, undermines product quality and consumer confidence.
The organisation called on European Union authorities to adopt binding standards that would set clear, enforceable limits for heavy metals in cosmetic products. Such regulations, Testachats argued, would both protect consumers and strengthen quality control measures for raw materials.
Testachats has shared its findings with Belgium’s Federal Public Health Service (FPS) and with Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. According to the organisation, the minister has pledged to raise the issue with the European Commission.
If the EU acts, the move could harmonise oversight of heavy metals in cosmetics across all member states. For consumers, it would mean greater transparency and improved safety for widely used skincare products.
For now, Testachats recommends that consumers remain informed and cautious, especially when using natural clay-based products. The organisation plans to continue monitoring the cosmetics market and pushing for stronger health protections.