• Olaplex has reformulated its #3 Hair Perfector Mask following an EU ban on a previous ingredient.
• Continued exposure to the additive, lilial, was linked to fertility risks and banned in cosmetics.
• The company has phased out the ingredient globally “out of an abundance of caution”.

Consumers who use Olaplex, a popular haircare line, have expressed concern on social media after an ingredient in the brand’s Hair Perfector No. 3 mask was linked to a risk of fertility problems.

The formula for the beloved hair mask — Olaplex’s top-selling product, according to its website — included a small amount of a synthetic fragrance called butylphenyl methylpropional, or lilial.

Although the additive is non-toxic if used sparingly, a review by consumer safety regulators in the European Union concluded that the addition of small exposures over time could pose a risk to health, especially for people trying to conceive.

The EU officially classified lilial as “reprotoxic”, meaning it may be harmful to fertility and fetal development, in September 2020, with a March 2022 deadline for phasing out all products containing the chemical. According to an Instagram post from Olaplex, the company stopped selling products containing lilial entirely in January 2022.

“While this removal is limited to the EU and the US allows the use of this ingredient, out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed lilial from our #3 Hair Perfector worldwide,” says the legend.

Lilial is a common fragrance ingredient

Although Olaplex is the only brand to have publicly addressed the phasing out of lilial, it is among many others who have used the additive in cosmetics, skincare and other personal care products. .

A search for lilial on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website, a database of cosmetic ingredients and relevant health warnings, yielded over 1,200 product results. It was most commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products, followed by perfumes, lotions, and body washes.

The ingredient is found naturally in chamomile essential oil and can be extracted or made in the lab to be used for its signature Lily of the Valley scent – ​​usually in very small doses.

“The way Olaplex has diligently used the ingredient as a fragrance, non-functional and non-active, it should not cause infertility, miscarriages or disruptions to fetal development,” Olaplex representatives wrote in the Instagram caption.

While the EU ban is specifically for personal care products, lilial is also used as a fragrance in laundry detergents and household cleaners, according to the EWG.