EWG Skin Deep® | Balmex Multi-Purpose Healing Ointment Rating

EWG's Skin Deep®

Learn how Skin Deep® works Meet our experts Discover EWG VERIFIED^®

GET UPDATES DONATE

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®

Data Availability:

Limited

Balmex Multi-Purpose Healing Ointment

WHERE TO BUY

Buy on Amazon

When you make a purchase through retailer links on our site, we may earn commission through affiliate programs. All affiliate fees EWG receives support our nonprofit mission. Learn more here

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

MODERATE

Cancer
HIGH

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
HIGH

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
HIGH

Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

PETROLATUM

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	emollient, moisturising, uv absorber, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin protectant
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Contamination concerns (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs))
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ACACIA FARNESIANA FLOWER EXTRACT

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	perfuming
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ALLANTOIN

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin protecting, soothing, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin protectant
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF EXTRACT

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	external analgesic, humectant, oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient;skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent -occlusive
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (low) • Neurotoxicity (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

VITAMIN D3

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Occupational hazards (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

CYCLOMETHICONE

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, emollient, hair conditioning, humectant, solvent, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (high) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

DIMETHICONE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antifoaming, emollient, skin conditioning, skin protecting, antifoaming agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin protectant
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE and CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

FRAGRANCE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	deodorant, masking, perfuming
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	binding, emollient, perfuming, skin conditioning, solvent, binder, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ISOPROPYL PALMITATE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, binding, emollient, perfuming, skin conditioning, solvent, binder, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent -occlusive
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

MINERAL OIL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, emollient, perfuming, skin protecting, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient;skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin protectant
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

POLYETHYLENE

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	abrasive, film forming, viscosity controlling, adhesive, binder, bulking agent, emulsion stabilizer, film former, oral careagent, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE)

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (moderate) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (high) • Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) EXTRACT

Data Availability: Fair

CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SILICA, AMORPHOUS

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	abrasive, absorbent, anticaking, opacifying, anticaking agent, bulking agent, opacifying agent, suspending agent- nonsurfactant
CONCERNS	• Cancer (moderate) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Use restrictions (low) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

TOCOPHERYL ACETATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antioxidant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, emollient, emulsifying, hair conditioning, masking, skin conditioning, solvent, surfactant, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive;surfactant - emulsifying agent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Active Ingredients: Petrolatum 51.1%; Inactive Ingredients: ACACIA FARNESIANA FLOWER EXTRACT, ALLANTOIN, ALOE BARBADENIS LEAF EXTRACT, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, CHOLECALCIFEROL, CYCLOMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE, FRAGRANCE, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ISOPROPYL PALMITATE, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) EXTRACT, MINERAL OIL, POLYETHYLENE, RETINYL PALMITATE, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) EXTRACT, SILICA, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL (245-276)

Directions from packaging:

Change wet or soiled diapers promptly. Cleanse the diaper area and allow to dry. Apply ointment liberally as often as necessary with each diaper change especially at bedtime or any time exposure to wet diapers may be prolonged.

Warnings from packaging:

For external use only.Do not use on deep or puncture wounds, animal bites, and serious burns.If condition does not improve within 7 days, consult a physician.When using this product avoid contact with eyes.Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.

PETA: Companies That Do Test on Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, has identified companies that "either test on animals or pay a laboratory to conduct tests on animals."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG

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.

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