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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

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Other Concerns

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

SYNONYMS

● ETHYLHEXYL HYDROXYSTEARATE
● OCTYL HYDROXYSTEARATE
● 12-HYDROXYOCTADECANOIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER
● 2-ETHYLHEXYL OXYSTEARATE
● 2-ETHYLHEXYL HYDROXYSTEARATE
● 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER OCTADECANOIC ACID, 12-HYDROXY-
● 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER 12-HYDROXYOCTADECANOIC ACID
● 12-HYDROXY- 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER OCTADECANOIC ACID
● 2-ETHYL HEXYL OXYSTEARATE

This ingredient is not currently on EWG's Skin Deep Restricted or Unacceptable Lists.

A synthetic skin conditioning agent based on stearic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid.

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

Expand content Collapse content
concealer71 products
bronzer/highlighter10 products
lipstick189 products
lip liner1 products
lip gloss85 products
lip balm18 products
around-eye cream11 products
facial moisturizer/treatment15 products
conditioner4 products
hair relaxer1 products
blush6 products
mascara1 products
makeup remover3 products
daily use with SPF19 products
hair color and bleaching4 products
serums & essences8 products
makeup primer7 products
foundation33 products
eye shadow12 products
lip plumper8 products
moisturizer1 products
mask12 products
BB cream4 products
shampoo4 products
Under Eye Concealers1 products
anti-aging4 products
hand cream1 products
styling gel/lotion4 products
hair treatment/serum7 products
hair styling aid6 products
eye liner1 products
recreational sunscreen2 products
Facial Sun Care2 products
CC cream4 products
facial cleanser1 products
hair spray7 products
facial powder1 products

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)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment 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
Uncertain environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada

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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