EWG Skin Deep® | Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub Rating

EWG's Skin Deep®

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Data Availability:

Limited

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub

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Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

MODERATE

Cancer
HIGH

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW

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.

SALICYLIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antidandruff, hair conditioning, keratolytic, masking, preservative, skin conditioning, antiacne agent, antidandruff agent, corn/callus/wart remover, denaturant, exfoliant;fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (high) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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WATER

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	solvent
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CETYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	emollient, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, masking, opacifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, fragrance ingredient, opacifying agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent;surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, viscosity increasing agent -nonaqueous
CONCERNS	• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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PPG-15 STEARYL ETHER

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient
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CELLULOSE

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	absorbent, bulking, opacifying, viscosity controlling, bulking agent, slip modifier
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POLYSORBATE-60

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsifying, fragrance ingredient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
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GLYCERIN

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate)
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STEARETH-21

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
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C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient
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GLYCOLIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, exfoliant, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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CETYL LACTATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emollient, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (high)
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POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant, surfactant - emulsifying agent
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	buffering, denaturant, ph adjuster
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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XANTHAN GUM

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	binding, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, gel forming, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling, binder, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant -emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
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COCAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic, hair conditioning, antistatic agent, hair conditioning agent
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Use restrictions (high)
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DISODIUM EDTA

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	chelating, viscosity controlling, chelating agent
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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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)
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MENTHOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	denaturant, masking, refreshing, soothing, external analgesic, flavoring agent, fragrance ingredient, oral health caredrug
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antimicrobial, antistatic, deodorant, preservative, surfactant, antimicrobial agent, antistatic agent, cosmetic biocide, deodorant agent, surfactant -suspending agent
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Use restrictions (moderate) • Neurotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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AGAR

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	binding, masking, viscosity controlling, binder, fragrance ingredient, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
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BHT

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antioxidant, masking, fragrance ingredient
CONCERNS	• Cancer (moderate) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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SODIUM BENZOTRIAZOLYL BUTYLPHENOL SULFONATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	uv absorber, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
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CI 77499

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	cosmetic colorant, colorant
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
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MICA

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	opacifying, colorant
CONCERNS	• Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
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TITANIUM DIOXIDE (sunscreen grade)

Data Availability: Good

CONCERNS	• Cancer (moderate) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Occupational hazards (high) • Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)
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D&C Red No. 30 (CI 73360)

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	cosmetic colorant, colorant
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low)
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FD&C Red No. 40 (CI 16035)

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	colorant
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate) • Neurotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Persistence and bioaccumulation (low) • Contamination concerns (MERCURY, 6-METHOXY-M-TOLUIDINE, ANILINE, and CADMIUM)
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Ingredients from packaging:

Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2.0%; Inactive Ingredients: WATER, CETYL ALCOHOL, PPG-15 STEARYL ETHER, CELLULOSE, GLYCERIN POLYSORBATE 60, STEARETH-21, C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE, GLYCOLIC ACID, CETYL LACTATE, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, XANTHAN GUM COCAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE, DISODIUM EDTA, FRAGRANCE, MENTHOL, BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE, AGAR, BHT, SODIUM BENZOTRIAZOL BUTYLPHENOL SULFONATE, IRON OXIDES, MICA, YELLOW 5 TITANIUM DIOXIDE, RED 30, RED 40

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