| Score |  Data: Limited |
| Health Concern | HIGH |
| Product Types | moisturizer; skin fading / lightener |
| Made by | by |
| Data last updated | October 2009 |
| how to read the score | |
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company policies | |
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| Compact for Safe Cosmetics | Non-signer |
| Animal Testing Policy | UNKNOWN: As of EWG's last review, this company is not certified by PETA or Leaping Bunny as not testing on animals. |
Label Information | |
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| Ingredients from packaging: | Active Ingredients: Hydroquinone (2%), Octyl Dimethyl PABA (3%). Inactive Ingredients: Deionized Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Lauryl Polyglucose, Fragrance (parfum), Propylene Glycol, Bilberry Extract (Vaccinium Myrtillus), Sugar Cane Extract (Saccharum Officinarum), Sugar Maple Extract (Acer Saccharum), Orange Extract (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis), Lemon Extract (Citrus Medica Limonum), Sodium Sulfite, Citric Acid, Dizolidinyl Urea, Sodium Metabisulfate, Laureth 7, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Corn Oil (Zea Mays), Glyceryl Oleate, BHA, BHT, T-Butyl Hydroquinone. |
| Directions from packaging: | Spread a thin layer onto affected areas of the body, hands or face. For best results, use twice a day. If no improvement is seen after 3 months of treatment, use of this product should be discontinued. |
Where to purchase | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shop with EWG on Amazon.com | Amazon.com product page | |
ingredients |
concerns | score |
|---|---|---|
| HYDROQUINONE (Active Ingredient) | Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Use restrictions | Data: Good |
| BHA | Cancer, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Use restrictions | Data: Robust |
| FRAGRANCE | Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous |  Data: Fair |
| CETEARETH-20 | Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE), Use restrictions |  Data: Limited |
| PEG-100 STEARATE | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Data gaps, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) |  Data: Limited |
| PADIMATE O OCTYL DIMETHYL PABA | Cancer, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Ecotoxicology, Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES-in the presence of nitrosating agents), Biochemical or cellular level changes, Use restrictions (meets restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data) |  Data: Fair |
| METHYLPARABEN | Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes | Data: Fair |
| PROPYLPARABEN | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology | Data: Fair |
| DIAZOLIDINYL UREA DIZOLIDINYL UREA | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns (FORMALDEHYDE), Use restrictions | Data: Limited |
| BHT | Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) | Data: Fair |
| LAURETH-7 | Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) | Data: Limited |
| MINERAL OIL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) | Data: Fair |
| DIMETHICONE | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Use restrictions | Data: Limited |
| PROPYLENE GLYCOL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions | Data: Fair |
| CITRIC ACID | Use restrictions |  Data: Good |
| POLYACRYLAMIDE | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns (ACRYLAMIDE), Use restrictions | Data: Fair |
| T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE | Use restrictions | Data: Fair |
| CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT ORANGE EXTRACT (CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS) | Multiple, additive exposure sources |  Data: Limited |
| C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) | Data: Limited |
| CETEARYL ALCOHOL | Ecotoxicology | Data: Limited |
| GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE GLYCERYL STEARATE | Ecotoxicology | Data: Limited |
| GLYCERYL OLEATE | Ecotoxicology, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) | Data: Limited |
| ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE | Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) | Data: Fair |
| SODIUM SULFITE | Allergies/immunotoxicity | Data: Fair |
| DISODIUM EDTA | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Enhanced skin absorption | Data: Fair |
| ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT SUGAR MAPLE EXTRACT (ACER SACCHARUM) | None Identified |  Data: Limited |
| CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) EXTRACT LEMON EXTRACT (CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM) | None Identified | Data: Limited |
| LAURYL POLYGLUCOSE | None Identified |  Data: None |
| SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT SUGAR CANE EXTRACT (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM) | None Identified | Data: Limited |
| SODIUM METABISULFATE | None Identified | Data: Limited |
| VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BILBERRY) EXTRACT BILBERRY EXTRACT (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS) | None Identified | Data: Limited |
| GLYCERIN | None Identified | Data: Fair |
| ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL CORN OIL (ZEA MAYS) | 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. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Possible carcinogen | BHA | |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high doses | BHT | |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | PADIMATE O | |
| Limited evidence of carcinogenicity | HYDROQUINONE | |
| Not likely to be carcinogenic in humans | T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE | |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity**Listed below are developmental/reproductive toxicity 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 likely to be a any toxicant in humans | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | |
| One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | BHT | |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | HYDROQUINONE | |
| One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | DISODIUM EDTA | |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at low doses | PROPYLPARABEN | |
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. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity | HYDROQUINONE | |
| 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) |
| endocrine - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox study | BHA | |
| One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at high doses | BHT | |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | METHYLPARABEN, PADIMATE O | |
| One or more studies show significant wildlife and the environment disruption | PROPYLPARABEN | |
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. |
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|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more human case studies show possible immune effects | PROPYLPARABEN | |
| Associated with immunotoxicity | PADIMATE O | |
| One or more human case studies show possible immune effects | METHYLPARABEN | |
| Human immune system toxicant - moderate evidence | SODIUM SULFITE | |
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | HYDROQUINONE | |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant - strong evidence | MINERAL OIL, BHT, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | FRAGRANCE, BHA | |
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 | ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL, WATER, T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE, SODIUM SULFITE, PROPYLPARABEN, POLYACRYLAMIDE, PADIMATE O, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, GLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, DIMETHICONE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA | |
| Not suspected to be persistent | PEG-100 STEARATE, METHYLPARABEN, HYDROQUINONE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, CITRIC ACID, BHA, CETEARETH-20, CETEARYL ALCOHOL | |
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 | ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL, WATER, SODIUM SULFITE, GLYCERIN | |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE, PADIMATE O, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, CITRIC ACID, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20 | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE, MINERAL OIL | |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN | |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | DIMETHICONE | |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | PEG-100 STEARATE, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, BHT | |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at low doses | HYDROQUINONE | |
| Known human any toxicant | BHA | |
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) |
| 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 | PEG-100 STEARATE, T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE, SODIUM SULFITE, PROPYLPARABEN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, MINERAL OIL, METHYLPARABEN, LAURYL POLYGLUCOSE, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, GLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, DIMETHICONE, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, BHT, BHA | |
| Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available | CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT | |
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, DIMETHICONE | |
| Suspected to be an environmental toxin | PEG-100 STEARATE, PADIMATE O, HYDROQUINONE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL | |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | ZEA MAYS (CORN) OIL, WATER, T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE, SODIUM SULFITE, PROPYLPARABEN, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, METHYLPARABEN, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, CITRIC ACID, CETEARETH-20, BHA | |
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) |
| Human any irritant - strong evidence | products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne) | ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE |
| Classified as skin irritant | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | |
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 | PEG-100 STEARATE | |
| 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 | PEG-100 STEARATE | |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | PROPYLENE GLYCOL | |
| 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 | PROPYLPARABEN, SODIUM SULFITE, METHYLPARABEN, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, DISODIUM EDTA, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, DIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BHT, BHA | |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BILBERRY) EXTRACT, SODIUM METABISULFATE, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT, PADIMATE O, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, MINERAL OIL, LAURYL POLYGLUCOSE, GLYCERIN, FRAGRANCE, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT | |
Biochemical or cellular level changes**Listed below are biochemical or cellular level changes 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) |
| Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease. | PADIMATE O | |
| Interferes with gene expresion | METHYLPARABEN | |
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. |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, HYDROQUINONE | |
| Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics | BHA | |
| Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Safe for brief discontinuous use followed by thorough rinsing | products that are intended to be left on the skin | HYDROQUINONE |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | CETEARETH-20, HYDROQUINONE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE | |
| Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panel | DIMETHICONE | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | HYDROQUINONE, CITRIC ACID | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | T-BUTYL HYDROQUINONE | |
