Safety and Transparency at the Heart of Cosmetic Manufacturing

Safety and transparency at the heart of cosmetic innovation.

Modern cosmetics are at a turning point. Between rapidly evolving regulations and growing consumer demands for safer, more sustainable, and more transparent products, industry players must now rethink their entire value chain. According to the OECD, controlling water quality throughout the manufacturing process, long underestimated, is now considered an essential factor to ensure the safety and compliance of finished products.

While final formulations naturally remain a key focus, the water quality used during cosmetic production has become a critical issue. Mastering invisible contaminants, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is now essential to align with tomorrow’s standards.PFAS, comprising more than 4,000 chemical compounds, are used for their water-repellent and oil-resistant properties across many sectors, including cosmetics.

PFAS: An Invisible Yet Significant Risk

PFAS have long been prized for their extreme resistance to degradation, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals" in scientific and regulatory literature. However, the health risks associated with these substances are now widely documented. Recent studies link PFAS exposure to hormonal disruptions, weakened immune systems, decreased fertility, and an increased risk of certain cancers. The detection of PFAS in human blood, breast milk, and drinking water resources has triggered major regulatory action, particularly in Europe. While dietary intake remains the primary source of PFAS exposure, OECD studies highlight that the use of contaminated water in industrial processes, including cosmetics manufacturing, constitutes an indirect but concerning route of exposure for consumers.

Industrial Water: A New Control Frontier

Water plays an omnipresent role in cosmetic factories: cleaning equipment, manufacturing aqueous bases, dilution, and rinsing operations. Recent research shows that contamination of industrial water by micropollutants like PFAS or heavy metals can directly impact the quality of final products, increasing the risk of non-compliance during quality inspections.

Today, the quality of all inputs including water is scrutinized in clean beauty audits, alongside raw material traceability and process transparency. This shift compels brands to equip themselves with precise tools capable of monitoring the presence of invisible contaminants throughout their production chain.

PANDa: Klearia’s Solution for Safer Cosmetic Production

To support this industry transformation, Klearia has developed PANDa, a next-generation detection technology specialized in industrial water quality control. Thanks to advancements in microfluidics, PANDa can identify micropollutants such as PFAS and heavy metals in real time, even at extremely low concentrations.

Designed to integrate easily into existing production lines, PANDa delivers fast analyses, providing results in less than two hours without requiring specialized analytical skills. This tool enables manufacturers to continuously monitor water quality, anticipate non-compliance issues, and strengthen their credibility with both consumers and certification bodies.

A Strategic Advancement in an Increasingly Demanding Regulatory Context

In response to the health risks associated with PFAS, regulations are evolving rapidly. France has recently passed legislation banning the use of PFAS in cosmetics starting January 2026, making it a pioneer in Europe. At the European level, a broader restriction on PFAS is currently being evaluated under the REACH regulation framework. At the same time, clean beauty labels are strengthening their criteria for traceability and quality control, demanding full transparency not only regarding product ingredients but also the entire manufacturing process, including the quality of water used.

In this context, the ability to control contamination risks particularly through innovative technologies like PANDa is becoming a strategic advantage for brands. By securing their production chains and providing solid guarantees about the purity of their products, brands strengthen their positioning in a market that is increasingly sensitive to environmental and health issues.