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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Benzoic Acid

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements. The score will be lower if used in products that meet these safety guidelines and requirements.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● SCAVENGEPORE(TM) BENZOIC ACID, MACROPOROUS, 40-70 MESH, EXTENT OF LABELING: 0.5-1.5 MMOL PER G LOADING
● B2635
● B0062
● CS-0008257
● FT-0662569
● 606-EP2374788A1
● FT-0770591
● 606-EP2377845A1
● FT-0662570
● ST45061539

Restricted

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

Benzoic acid is a naturally occurring and synthetically produced substance; it is used in food and cosmetics as a preservative.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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foot moisturizer10 products
facial cleanser161 products
facial moisturizer/treatment167 products
shampoo435 products
moisturizer189 products
conditioner293 products
bath oil/salts/soak13 products
hair spray36 products
styling gel/lotion85 products
foundation377 products
facial powder7 products
antiperspirant/deodorant43 products
body wash/cleanser191 products
body firming lotion53 products
sunless tanning29 products
shaving cream9 products
mascara60 products
lip gloss73 products
mouthwash211 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)6 products
around-eye cream37 products
lipstick182 products
toners/astringents84 products
concealer125 products
makeup remover80 products
after shave11 products
hand cream73 products
mask96 products
bubble bath9 products
lip balm11 products
hair styling aid113 products
exfoliant/scrub60 products
hair color and bleaching22 products
shaving cream (men's)4 products
eye shadow39 products
baby wipes37 products
hair treatment/serum140 products
toothpaste59 products
detangler15 products
styling mousse/foam29 products
Hair Styling Gel14 products
setting powder/spray21 products
eye makeup remover9 products
serums & essences74 products
brow liner42 products
Face Wipes4 products
foot odor control1 products
body spray12 products
fragrance for men5 products
eye liner15 products
daily use with SPF76 products
baby lotion16 products
baby oil2 products
baby shampoo12 products
baby soap8 products
diaper cream6 products
lip balm with SPF3 products
makeup primer17 products
lip plumper7 products
tooth whitening1 products
other eye makeup4 products
liquid hand soap41 products
Oils & Serums5 products
beard care7 products
hair-loss treatment2 products
body oil5 products
anti-aging14 products
baby bubble bath2 products
after sun product7 products
fragrance for women10 products
beard oil1 products
blush15 products
oil controller1 products
beard cleanser5 products
muscle/joint soreness3 products
nail treatment1 products
bar soap6 products
lip liner3 products
bronzer/highlighter24 products
recreational sunscreen11 products
tanning oil1 products
Exfoliants2 products
baby sunscreen2 products
cuticle treatment2 products
vapor rubs1 products
baby toothpaste1 products
CC cream6 products
other men's products1 products
Lip Stain3 products
hair removal waxes2 products
Facial Sun Care2 products
Bath and Body Wipes3 products
hand sanitizer1 products
acne treatment1 products
polish remover1 products
Wipes5 products
nail polish2 products
skin fading/lightener1 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders1 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
BB cream1 products
Baby Hair Conditioner1 products

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)
Insufficient data to determine safetyEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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)
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)Japan Ministry of Health

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogenEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment 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
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

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)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Japan Ministry of Health
  • 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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