| Score |  Data: Limited |
| Health Concern | HIGH |
| Product Types | acne treatment; eczema / damaged skin treatment |
| Made by | Neutrogena by Johnson & Johnson |
| Data last updated | April 2008 |
| how to read the score | |
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company policies | |
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| Compact for Safe Cosmetics | Non-signer |
| Animal Testing Policy | According to PETA, this company conducts animal tests. |
Label Information | |
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| Ingredients from packaging: | Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (2%) (Acne Treatment). Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol Denat. (38%), Witch Hazel Extract (Hamamelis Virginiana), Polyacrylamide, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, CyclopentaSiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, PPG 2 Isoceteth 20 Acetate, Phenethyl Dimethicone, Cetyl Lactate, Cocamidopropyl PG Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth 7, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Hydroxide, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance. |
| Directions from packaging: | Cleanse skin thoroughly before applying medication. Cover the entire affected area with a thin layer 1 to 3 times daily. Because excessive dryness of the skin may occur, start with one application daily, then gradually increase to 2 to 3 times daily if needed or as directed by a doctor. If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to every other day. |
| Warnings from packaging: | For external use only. When using this product avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, flush thoroughly with water. Keep out of reach of children. Flammable. Keep away from open fire or flame. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are using other topical acne medications at the same time or immediately following use of this product. May increase dryness or irritation of the skin. If this occurs, only one medication should be used unless directed by a doctor. |
Where to purchase | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shop with EWG on Amazon.com | Amazon.com product page | |
ingredients |
concerns | score |
|---|---|---|
| FRAGRANCE | Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous |  Data: Fair |
| SALICYLIC ACID (Active Ingredient) | Cancer, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions |  Data: Good |
| BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Use restrictions | Data: Good |
| CETYL LACTATE | Cancer, Ecotoxicology, Use restrictions |  Data: Limited |
| PHENOXYETHANOL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions |  Data: Limited |
| LAURETH-7 | Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) | Data: Limited |
| PPG-2 ISOCETETH-20 ACETATE | Data gaps, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) |  Data: None |
| POLYSORBATE-20 | Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) | Data: Fair |
| CYCLOPENTASILOXANE | Cancer, Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology | Data: Limited |
| PROPYLENE GLYCOL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions | Data: Fair |
| TETRASODIUM EDTA | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards |  Data: Fair |
| AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) | Data: Limited |
| ALCOHOL DENATURED ALCOHOL DENAT (38%) | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Enhanced skin absorption | Data: Fair |
| POLYACRYLAMIDE | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns (ACRYLAMIDE), Use restrictions | Data: Fair |
| C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE | Ecotoxicology |  Data: Limited |
| C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) | Data: Limited |
| BUTYLENE GLYCOL | Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) | Data: Limited |
| CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE | None Identified |  Data: None |
| COCAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE | None Identified | Data: None |
| DEHYDRO XANTHAN GUM | None Identified | Data: None |
| HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) EXTRACT WITCH HAZEL EXTRACT (HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA) | None Identified |  Data: Limited |
| PORTULACA OLERACEA (GREEN PURSLANE) EXTRACT PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT | None Identified | Data: Limited |
| CEDRUS ATLANTICA BARK EXTRACT | None Identified | Data: None |
| CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM BARK EXTRACT | None Identified | Data: None |
| PHENETHYL DIMETHICONE | None Identified | Data: None |
| GLYCERIN | None Identified | Data: Fair |
| SARCOSINE | None Identified | Data: Fair |
| WATER | Innocuous | Data: Robust |
Cancer**Listed below are cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
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|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at moderate doses | CYCLOPENTASILOXANE | |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | CETYL LACTATE, SALICYLIC ACID | |
Neurotoxicity**Listed below are neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
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|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses | CYCLOPENTASILOXANE | |
| Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity | FRAGRANCE | |
Endocrine disruption**Listed below are endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at moderate doses | CYCLOPENTASILOXANE | |
Allergies/immunotoxicity**Listed below are allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | FRAGRANCE | |
Persistence and bioaccumulation**Listed below are persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | WATER, SARCOSINE, POLYACRYLAMIDE, GLYCERIN, C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, ALCOHOL DENATURED | |
| Not suspected to be persistent | CETYL LACTATE, PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife | CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, SALICYLIC ACID | |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)**Listed below are organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Classified as a low human health priority | WATER, POLYSORBATE-20, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLYCERIN, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | SARCOSINE, CETYL LACTATE, C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | TETRASODIUM EDTA, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE | |
| Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicity | ALCOHOL DENATURED | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | CYCLOPENTASILOXANE | |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN | |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | SALICYLIC ACID | |
Miscellaneous**Listed below are miscellaneous concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, ALCOHOL DENATURED | |
| Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown | FRAGRANCE | |
Multiple, additive exposure sources**Listed below are multiple, additive exposure sources concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | TETRASODIUM EDTA, SALICYLIC ACID, POLYSORBATE-20, POLYACRYLAMIDE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL DENATURED, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | |
| Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available | SALICYLIC ACID, ALCOHOL DENATURED | |
Ecotoxicology**Listed below are ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative | POLYACRYLAMIDE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | CETYL LACTATE, C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE | |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | WATER, SARCOSINE, POLYSORBATE-20, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL DENATURED | |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)**Listed below are irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses | BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | |
| Human skin irritant - moderate evidence | AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | |
| Human any irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | BUTYLENE GLYCOL |
| Classified as skin irritant | PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL | |
Data gaps**Listed below are data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PPG-2 ISOCETETH-20 ACETATE | |
| Considered safe based on assumption of low absorption | POLYACRYLAMIDE | |
| 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 product | TETRASODIUM EDTA, POLYSORBATE-20, PHENOXYETHANOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL | |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | PHENETHYL DIMETHICONE, CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM BARK EXTRACT, CEDRUS ATLANTICA BARK EXTRACT, SARCOSINE, PPG-2 ISOCETETH-20 ACETATE, PORTULACA OLERACEA (GREEN PURSLANE) EXTRACT, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, FRAGRANCE, DEHYDRO XANTHAN GUM, COCAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE, CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, C12-15 ALKYL LACTATE, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE | |
Occupational hazards**Listed below are occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
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|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | PHENOXYETHANOL, TETRASODIUM EDTA | |
Use restrictions**Listed below are use restrictions concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
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|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | POLYACRYLAMIDE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE, CETYL LACTATE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | SALICYLIC ACID, BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | |
| Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Allowable pH limits | CETYL LACTATE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) | SALICYLIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SALICYLIC ACID | |
