PFAS65/ 100Good
Overall43/ 100Poor
Carbon38 Women's High Rise Full-Length Legging in Takara Shine

Carbon38 · Activewear

Carbon38 Women's High Rise Full-Length Legging in Takara Shine

Good

Likely lower concern, but Takara Shine finish unspecified. No disclosure.

Verdict: SkipNylon/polyester blend with no reported hazards; Takara Shine finish unspecified but typical for activewear. Low concern with standard care.

Carbon38 does not disclose PFAS or water-repellent coating chemistry for this legging. The Takara Shine finish lacks transparency. No public lab testing or certifications available for verification.

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

Nylon/polyester blend with Takara Shine finish

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

What’s concerning

♾️

Category baseline

clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

70/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
💨

Formaldehyde / VOCs

Takara Shine finish composition is proprietary and undisclosed. Some surface finishes employ formaldehyde-releasing resins for wrinkle resistance or durability; wash-before-wear practice mitigates residual exposure, as formaldehyde typically off-gases over the first few launderings.

Source: ATSDR
70/ 100
⚠️

Antimony in polyester

Polyester often uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst in manufacturing. Antimony does not leach significantly from finished fabric under normal wear, but this product contains no public testing to rule out elevated concentrations or improper processing.

70/ 100
🫧

Microplastic shedding from synthetic fabric

Nylon and polyester garments shed microfibers during wear and washing, a known phenomenon independent of brand. This is a material class concern, not specific to Carbon38, but relevant to long-term environmental and indirect inhalation exposure during laundry cycles.

45/ 100

Takara Shine finish stability and degradation

Proprietary finish composition is not disclosed, so durability and degradation products over time cannot be assessed. If finish includes silicones or hydrophobic coatings, it may degrade with washing or UV exposure, potentially releasing unstable breakdown products; frequency and composition unknown.

70/ 100

What’s reassuring

Safe base material

Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).

100/ 100
⛏️

Heavy metals

No specific reports or recalls for Carbon38 High Rise Legging. Nylon/polyester blends can be dyed with azo or heavy-metal-containing dyes, but major brands typically comply with REACH and EU regulations; no public evidence of non-compliance for this product.

Source: FDA
95/ 100

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

This legging is a nylon/polyester blend, common in performance activewear for stretch, durability, and moisture-wicking. Nylon and polyester themselves are stable synthetic polymers with low leaching risk during normal wear. The Takara Shine finish is a proprietary sheen treatment applied to the fabric surface; Carbon38 does not publicly disclose its chemical composition, though such finishes typically involve silicones or wax-based coatings that remain on the surface and do not migrate into skin under normal wear conditions.

The brand's record and disclosure

Carbon38 does not publicly disclose detailed chemical or processing information for this product or maintain visible third-party certifications (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, or equivalent). The brand has no widely reported chemical safety controversies or recalls specific to this garment line. No independent testing results or certification details are available for this model, so assessment relies on material class standards and lack of negative public record rather than positive verification.

How it compares in its category

Nylon/polyester blends are standard in mid-to-premium activewear leggings. This product sits in the typical safety profile for unlabeled synthetic performance wear, neither better nor worse than comparable brands without transparency. Many competitors at this price point similarly lack chemical disclosure; some certified alternatives (OEKO-TEX-labeled nylon) exist but command premium pricing. Takara Shine finish is a cosmetic feature and does not significantly change hazard profile compared to unfinished nylon/poly.

If you buy it

Wash before first wear to remove any residual finish or processing residues. Use cool water and mild detergent; avoid high heat drying, as nylon can degrade and shed microfibers at temperatures above 60C (140F). Tumble dry on low or air dry to extend garment life and reduce microplastic shedding. Replace when elastic degrades, seams fray, or fabric pills excessively, typically after 50-100 wears with regular care.

What we don’t know

Basis
Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
Lab test
None on record for this exact product
Brand statement
Carbon38 has made none

Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.

More activewear grades

How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.