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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Paraffin

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Persistence and bioaccumulation (low_moderate) and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate)

SYNONYMS

● WAXES, PARAFFIN
● PETROLEUM WAX, CRYSTALLINE
● PARAFFIN WAX
● LOW MELTING POINT PARAFFIN
● HIGH MELTING POINT PARAFFIN
● PARAFFIN WAXES
● CRYSTALLINE PETROLEUM WAX
● PARAFFIN WAXES (PETROLEUM), HYDROTREATED
● HYDROTREATED PARAFFIN WAX; HYDROTREATED PARAFFIN WAX
● PARAFFIN WAXES (PETROLEUM) HYDROTREATED

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Paraffin is a solid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.

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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conditioner17 products
styling gel/lotion20 products
hair styling aid33 products
lip balm432 products
lipstick749 products
eye liner299 products
lip liner229 products
lip gloss48 products
antiperspirant/deodorant29 products
moisturizer41 products
mascara483 products
concealer178 products
hair treatment/serum22 products
hair relaxer1 products
eye shadow92 products
foot moisturizer7 products
hair-loss treatment2 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)9 products
mask11 products
bar soap18 products
facial cleanser9 products
bronzer/highlighter88 products
hand cream22 products
fragrance for women2 products
makeup remover2 products
body firming lotion18 products
exfoliant/scrub14 products
facial moisturizer/treatment16 products
blush66 products
brow liner134 products
hair spray8 products
foundation195 products
lip balm with SPF15 products
foot cleansing1 products
makeup primer22 products
diaper cream33 products
recreational sunscreen32 products
anti-aging3 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
baby sunscreen6 products
setting powder/spray1 products
Under Eye Concealers1 products
damaged skin treatment4 products
around-eye cream9 products
hair color and bleaching6 products
lip plumper8 products
beard care2 products
nail polish3 products
daily use with SPF1 products
hair removal waxes4 products
cuticle treatment2 products
hand sanitizer1 products
depilatory8 products
shampoo2 products
body art2 products
foot odor control1 products
facial powder1 products
serums & essences2 products
BB cream1 products

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in peopleMineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in female Fischer 344 rats; accumulation of wax components; implications for risk assessment(2017-04-01)
Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in peopleMineral oil in human tissues, part II: characterization of the accumulated hydrocarbons by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography(2015-02-01)
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

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)

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)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as medium human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in female Fischer 344 rats; accumulation of wax components; implications for risk assessment(2017-04-01)
  • Mineral oil in human tissues, part II: characterization of the accumulated hydrocarbons by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography(2015-02-01)
  • Environment Canada
  • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

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?

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