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Score legend
HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®
Product score: 02

Data Availability:

Limited

EltaMD Elta MD So Silky Hand Creme

EltaMD Elta MD So Silky Hand Creme

WHERE TO BUY

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CATEGORY

Hand Cream

BRAND

EltaMD

DATA LAST UPDATED

May 2024

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient scores

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

Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
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Ingredient score: 01
CAPRYLIC/ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive
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Ingredient score: 01
GLYCERIN
Data Availability: Fair
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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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Ingredient score: 01
CETYL ALCOHOL
Data Availability: Fair
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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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Ingredient score: 03
DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Fair
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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)
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Ingredient score: 01
ETHYLHEXYL ISONONANOATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant, surfactant - emulsifying agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDES
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous
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Ingredient score: 01
HYDROLYZED JOJOBA ESTERS
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) film forming, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, emulsion stabilizer, film former, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent -occlusive, surfactant - emulsifying agent
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Ingredient score: 01
JOJOBA ESTERS
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, moisturising, skin conditioning, soothing, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
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Ingredient score: 02
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
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Ingredient score: 01
CERAMIDE NP
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
CHOLESTEROL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning, stabilising, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, viscosity increasing agent -nonaqueous
CONCERNS • Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
CERAMIDE
Data Availability: Fair
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Ingredient score: 01
CERAMIDE NS
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 01
CETEARETH-25
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent
CONCERNS • Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
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Ingredient score: 01
CERAMIDE EOP
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
CERAMIDE AP
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 01
CAPROYL SPHINGOSINE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
CAPROOYL PHYTOSPHINGOSINE
Data Availability: None
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Ingredient score: 01
SILICA, AMORPHOUS
Data Availability: Good
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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)
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Ingredient score: 02
DISODIUM EDTA
Data Availability: Limited
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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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Ingredient score: 01
XANTHAN GUM
Data Availability: Fair
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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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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM POLYACRYLATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) absorbent, binding, emollient, emulsion stabilising, film forming, hair fixing, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, film former, hair fixative, skin-conditioning agent -emollient, viscosity controlling agent, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
• Contamination concerns (ACRYLIC ACID)
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Ingredient score: 01
HYDROXYACETOPHENONE
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
1,2-HEXANEDIOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
SCLAREOLIDE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) masking, perfuming, skin conditioning, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
BEHENIC ACID
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) cleansing, emulsifying, opacifying, surfactant, opacifying agent, surfactant - cleansing agentsurfactant-cleansing agent is included as a function for the soap form of behenic acid.
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) colorant, opacifying agent, sunscreen agent, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Occupational hazards (high)
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Ingredient score: 01
MICA
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) opacifying, colorant
CONCERNS • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
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Ingredients from packaging:

Purified Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Ethyl Hexyl Isononanoate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOS, Ceramide NS, Ceteareth-25, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Silica, EDTA Disodium, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2- Hexanediol, Sclareolide, Behenic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Mica

Directions from packaging:

Apply to hands and massage well. For best results, use regularly.

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 Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

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.

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.

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