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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Emulsifying Wax

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Use restrictions (low) and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)

SYNONYMS

● EMULSIFYING WAX
● VEGETABLE EMULSIFYING WAX
● EMULSIFYING WAX NF

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

Emulsifying wax is a mixture derived from plant- or petroleum-based wax converted into an emulsion with the aid of added detergents.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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moisturizer228 products
mask22 products
damaged skin treatment2 products
anti-aging7 products
facial moisturizer/treatment87 products
serums & essences22 products
hand cream47 products
exfoliant/scrub42 products
conditioner54 products
facial cleanser33 products
hair treatment/serum14 products
shampoo2 products
hair spray2 products
body firming lotion17 products
body wash/cleanser2 products
hair styling aid18 products
hair color and bleaching13 products
blush10 products
eye shadow9 products
lipstick8 products
foot moisturizer5 products
skin fading/lightener1 products
makeup primer4 products
baby lotion10 products
detangler1 products
antiperspirant/deodorant5 products
around-eye cream20 products
after shave3 products
bar soap1 products
muscle/joint soreness5 products
styling gel/lotion6 products
shaving cream (men's)3 products
daily use with SPF3 products
BB cream1 products
bronzer/highlighter5 products
beard care2 products
recreational sunscreen6 products
shaving cream1 products
lip balm1 products

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of dermal toxicity or allergiesEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Miscellaneous

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknownEnvironmental Working Group (EWG)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
skin/eye/lung irritation - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualificationsCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Determined safe for use when formulated to avoid irritation, in assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR)Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Environment Canada
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

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