The European Union has recently banned the ingredient lilial which is present in several cosmetics, fragrances, skincare, and hair care products. Lilial is found in a number of products and the purpose of it is to separate the notes of a perfume. The ingredient is most commonly used name is “lilial” found on product labels, but another name for it is also butylphenyl methylpropional or p-t-Butyl-alpha-methyl-hydro cinnamaldehyde. Almost 1,200 beauty products contain the ingredient Lilial which includes products such as shampoos, conditioners, Hairstyling Products, body washes, moisturizers, fragrances, deodorants, and shaving creams. Lilial has also been used as a fragrant in several products.
Lilial has endocrine-disrupting properties and corrupts the natural hormone functions and damages fertility and causes harm to the reproductive system.
EU’s European Commission deemed lilial in the year 2020 to be a “reprotoxic carcinogenic or mutagenic” matter. According to this study, lilial is made prohibited to be used in beauty products being sold in Northern Ireland and the EU.
Due to its properties that can cause skin irritation and sensitization of the skin, lilial is also classified by the EU among the 26 allergenic ingredients which must be mentioned on product labels in the EU.