Updated EWG Verified™ ingredient restriction: Salicylic acid

April 3rd, 2024

By Alexa Friedman, Senior Scientist

The EWG Science Team has revised our restriction for salicylic acid after rigorous review of the latest toxicological and safety data, regulations and scientific opinions about its use in cosmetics. The updated restriction increased the maximum concentration from 0.2%, to 0.5% for use. Product type exclusions apply. The interim EWG Verified restriction is as follows:

  • Based on an EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) opinion on salicylic acid, the interim EWG decision for maximum safe concentration of use is 0.5% for use as a preservative or not as a preservative. Not to be used in oral products, products where inhalation exposure is possible (powders or sprays), or in products intended for use in children younger than 3 years old.

This standard, which is based on the maximum exposure levels and aggregate safety assessment provided by the SCCS, is considered protective. This new restriction is effective as of March 29, 2024, and will be applied to all products currently undergoing review, all future reviews and all resubmitted reviews.


Thank you for choosing EWG and EWG Verified™. For questions about our update, please contact [email protected]

Annual science review and standards update

December 12, 2023

By Samara Geller, Senior Director of Cleaning Science

Our 2023 science review and criteria update is finalized. Our updated criteria, including lists of unacceptable and restricted ingredients for each program are below:

What this means for our current EWG VERIFIED brands: Individual members of EWG VERIFIED will be notified if their EWG VERIFIED product requires additional review or substantiation as a result of  these updates. As a reminder, we review only those products that are close to the end of their contract. Note: Scores in Skin Deep� may not reflect changes immediately.

EWG will host a town hall in January 2024 to preview our updates for personal care, cleaning and diaper products and to answer questions. We will announce key changes and clarifications to our criteria documents and our lists of unacceptable and restricted ingredients. Highlights will include:

  • Retinol and retinoids
  • Green tea extract
  • Synthetic beeswax 
  • Mango seed butter
  • Alkyl polyglucosides 
  • Updated approach to concentrates of cleaning and personal care products.  

Authoritative lists and core toxicity datasets screened for new or changed listings for potential updates to our database scoring and lists of unacceptable and restricted ingredients, including but not limited to:

  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review  
  • European Union Annexes II and III 
  • Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of chemicals and Community Rolling Action Plan carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxicants
  • International Agency for Research on Cancernewest monographs

For questions about our update, please contact [email protected].