The two personal care products that I looked up in the Safe Cosmetics Database (Database) were Dove beauty bars for sensitive skin (Dove soap) and Cetaphil moisturizing lotion, fragrance free (Cetaphil lotion).
Dove soap
Associated health risks:
1The overall Environmental Working Group's (EWG) rating for Dove soap is 2, and is considered a low hazard level (see understanding the ratings at the bottom of this post). 1Almost all of the "ingredient concerns" listed for Dove soap are rated low hazards with either a 1 or a 2. 1The one anomaly was the ingredient cocamidopropyl betaine, that has a moderate hazard score of 4. 1Health concerns surrounding this ingredient include a low to moderate level of allergies/immunotoxicity. "1Cocamidopropyl betaine is a surfactant, and has been associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis." 1According to the Database the reactions to cocamidopropyl betaine could be due to the ingredient itself or to impurities present in it, such as 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. "1Cocamidopropyl betaine functions as a antistatic agent, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent, surfactant cleansing agent, surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, foam boosting, and viscosity controlling." 1In addition to the information above, cocamidopropyl betaine is suspected to be an environmental toxin.
Ingredient
Concerns
Score
Use restrictions, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns (COCAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE, 3-DIMETHYLAMINOPROPYLAMINE, NITROSAMINES-in the presence of nitrosating agents)
Data: Good
1The overall Environmental Working Group's (EWG) rating for Dove soap is 2, and is considered a low hazard level (see understanding the ratings at the bottom of this post). 1Almost all of the "ingredient concerns" listed for Dove soap are rated low hazards with either a 1 or a 2. 1The one anomaly was the ingredient cocamidopropyl betaine, that has a moderate hazard score of 4. 1Health concerns surrounding this ingredient include a low to moderate level of allergies/immunotoxicity. "1Cocamidopropyl betaine is a surfactant, and has been associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis." 1According to the Database the reactions to cocamidopropyl betaine could be due to the ingredient itself or to impurities present in it, such as 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. "1Cocamidopropyl betaine functions as a antistatic agent, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent, surfactant cleansing agent, surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, foam boosting, and viscosity controlling." 1In addition to the information above, cocamidopropyl betaine is suspected to be an environmental toxin.
Ingredient
|
Concerns
|
Score
|
|---|---|---|
Use restrictions, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns (COCAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE, 3-DIMETHYLAMINOPROPYLAMINE, NITROSAMINES-in the presence of nitrosating agents)
|
Data: Good
|
Cetaphil lotion
Associated health risks:
2The overall EWG's rating for Cetaphil lotion is 3, and is considered a moderate hazard level (see understanding the ratings at the bottom of this post). Unlike Dove soap, there were far more "ingredient concerns" listed at the moderate hazard level for Cetaphil lotion. 2Concerns include cancer, allergies/immunotoxicity, and use restrictions. 2The ingredients listed at the moderate hazard level are benzyl alcohol, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, farnesol, tocopheryl acetate, dimethicone, and ceteareth-20 (see also list below). 2The ingredient with the highest hazard level of 5 is benzyl alcohol. 2This is a naturally occurring and synthetic ingredient used as a solvent and preservative that has been associated with contact allergy. 2Concerns for this ingredient include use restrictions, occupational hazards, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), and allergies/immunotoxicity.
| Ingredient | Concerns | Score |
|---|---|---|
| BENZYL ALCOHOL | Use restrictions, Occupational hazards, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Allergies/immunotoxicity | 
Data: Fair
|
| SODIUM HYDROXIDE | Use restrictions, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
Data: Fair
|
| PHENOXYETHANOL | Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Allergies/immunotoxicity |
Data: Limited
|
| FARNESOL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Use restrictions |
Data: Fair
|
| TOCOPHERYL ACETATE | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Cancer, Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE) | 
Data: Fair
|
| DIMETHICONE | Use restrictions, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology |
Data: Limited
|
| CETEARETH-20 | Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) |
Data: Limited
|
How I responded to this new knowledge:
I've responded to this new knowledge by switching out my Dove soap and Cetaphil lotion for EWG verified products. I've also looked through the ingredients in the other personal care products that I use, and I have found that a large number of them also pose harmful risks to my health. Now that I am aware of the potential health hazards, I cannot go back to knowingly using products that are unhealthy for me and my family.
In reviewing my personal care products:
Were you surprised to find out the toxicity rating of your personal care products?
Yes, I was both surprised and amazed to learn about the toxicity ratings of both Dove soap and Cetaphil lotion. I was under the impression that because the Dove soap is made for sensitive skin, and that the Cetaphil lotion is fragrance free, that they would not be harmful to my health. I now know differently.
Did you decide to change any of your consumer behaviors based on your findings?
Yes, I have decided to look for and try alternative personal care products that are EWG verified. Although the overall hazard rating for Dove soap is 2 (low hazard level), I feel that it is important that I make the best decisions possible when purchasing and using products for my body. Going through this process has also made me look at the other products that I use on a daily basis (toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant) and change them as needed to EWG verified products.
Should everyone know about these risks, and why don't they?
Yes, everyone should know about these health risks. Similar to health risks related to medications, everyone should know about the health risks related to the personal care products that they use. By being kept ignorant to potential health risks, people are prevented from making the most informed decisions about their bodies.The reason that more people do not know about these risks is that the manufacturers of these products are not required to disclose these risks to consumers when the product is being advertised. If manufacturers were required to disclose the risks, then consumers would take that information and make better choices. Consumers trust that a product would not be sold unless it was safe for the consumer to use. Unfortunately, this trust is being misplaced. There is a huge need for public outreach and education on this topic.
Understanding the ratings:
"3For every product and ingredient in Skin Deep, there’s a two-part score – a hazard score and a data availability score.
The ingredient hazard score, from 1-10 reflects known and suspected hazards of ingredients.
 |
 |
 |
| Low hazard, | Moderate hazard | , or High hazard |
The data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies in the published scientific literature and the number included in the Database."
Data: None
|
 |
"3Data availability rating: the scope of ingredient safety data contained in Skin Deep, and the number of studies available in the open scientific literature"
|
Data: Limited
|
||
Data: Fair
|
||
Data: Good
|
||
Data: Robust
|
"3To calculate a product score, EWG tallies the hazards of individual ingredients and evaluates each product in relation to the rest of the products in the Database. The safest products score well by both measures: a low hazard rating AND fair or better data availability."
References:
- EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Done Beauty Bars Sensitive Skin. Retrieved from: www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/677161/Dove_Beauty_Bars_Sensitive_Skin%2C_2_pk/#.WnaRiExFy1M
- EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, Fragrance Free. Retrieved from: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/2656/Cetaphil_Moisturizing_Lotion%2C_Fragrance_Free/#.WnaPn0xFy1M
- EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. User's Guide to Skin Deep. Retrieved from: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/users-guide-to-skin-deep/#.WneYDkxFy1M
M2.4 Blog Assignment: Ken Cook and Advocacy Organizations on Toxics in Personal Care Products
It is very disturbing to me to see that my favorite lotion made this blog. My family and I use Cetaphil moisturizing lotion everyday because we have eczema and it helps soothe and moisturize our skin when we have a flare-up. I am so disappointed that the active ingredient benzyl alcohol which is in most products, has such a high level of toxicity. Now I have to go searching for a new lotion that we can use for eczema. Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteHi Elesia. It was disturbing to me as well that Cetaphil lotion has a moderate hazard level. My family and I have using this product for years, and like you I have to find a new lotion that is EWG certified. Please let me know what lotion you choose.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Angie. I was surprised to see that these products have a slight chance to cause cancer. Cetaphil lotion is a product that usually doctors recommend for people with really sensitive skin or individuals with eczema. I think it is interesting that this lotion may be causing other illnesses depending on your skins reaction to it.
ReplyDeleteHi Navleen. Thank you for your comment. I agree that it's interesting that even with Cetaphil's overall rating of moderately hazardous, that doctors recommend this product for people with sensitive skin. This proves that individuals need to do their research regarding personal care products, and that they need to be their own advocates with it comes to their bodies.
Delete