Other Concerns
Use restrictions (moderate), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low), and Biochemical or cellular level changes (high)SYNONYMS
Unacceptable
Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient
Oxybenzone is a sunscreen ingredient associated with photoallergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through the skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Common concerns
See how this product scores for common concerns.
-
LOWCancer
-
MODERATEAllergies & Immunotoxicity
-
LOWDevelopmental and Reproductive Toxicity
-
MODERATEUse Restrictions
Ingredient concerns
- CONCERNS
- DATA SOURCES
Products with this Ingredient
recreational sunscreen | 58 products |
daily use with SPF | 38 products |
nail polish | 26 products |
fragrance for women | 24 products |
lip balm with SPF | 19 products |
fragrance for men | 19 products |
foundation | 13 products |
hair spray | 11 products |
facial moisturizer/treatment | 10 products |
hair treatment/serum | 9 products |
concealer | 8 products |
exfoliant/scrub | 6 products |
baby sunscreen | 6 products |
hair styling aide | 5 products |
lip balm | 5 products |
body wash/cleanser | 5 products |
conditioner | 4 products |
styling gel/lotion | 4 products |
shampoo | 4 products |
after shave | 3 products |
mask | 3 products |
bronzer/highlighter | 3 products |
lip gloss | 2 products |
serums & essences | 2 products |
2 products | |
anti-aging | 2 products |
BB cream | 2 products |
eye liner | 1 products |
nail treatment | 1 products |
damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
detangler | 1 products |
bubble bath | 1 products |
liquid hand soap | 1 products |
nail glue | 1 products |
moisturizer | 1 products |
bath oil/salts/soak | 1 products |
skin fading/lightener | 1 products |
styling mousse/foam | 1 products |
body spray | 1 products |
beard care | 1 products |
hair color and bleaching | 1 products |
polish remover | 1 products |
makeup primer | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Penetration enhancer | Open scientific literature |
Absorbs into the skin | Open scientific literature |
Biochemical or cellular level changes
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease. | Open scientific literature |
Does not produces excess reactive oxygen species or other harmful biochemical changes. | Open scientific literature |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Possible human photoallergenic toxicant or allergen | Open scientific literature |
One or more human case studies show significant photoallergenic or allergenic effects | Open scientific literature |
One or more human case studies show possible Photoallergic or allergenic effects | Open scientific literature |
Limited evidence of immune system (sensitization) toxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
Limited evidence of any toxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
One or more human case studies show equivocal any or allergenic effects | Open scientific literature |
Associated with immunotoxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
Not likely to be a immune system toxicant or allergenic in humans | Open scientific literature |
Decreased skin absorption
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Limited potential to absorb into the skin. | Open scientific literature |
Use restrictions
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Endocrine disruption
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Human endocrine disruptor - moderate evidence | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
Limited evidence of wildlife and the environment disruption | European Commission on Endocrine Disruption |
One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | Open scientific literature |
One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at moderate doses | Open scientific literature |
Associated with endocrine disruption | Open scientific literature |
One or more animal studies show any disruption at high doses | Open scientific literature |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people | Open scientific literature |
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Limited evidence of developmental toxicity | Open scientific literature |
One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | Open scientific literature |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | Open scientific literature |
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
One or more animal studies show no adverse broad systemic effects at high doses | Open scientific literature |
Cancer
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
One or more animal studies show tumor formation at moderate doses | Open scientific literature |
Not likely to be mutagenic in humans | Open scientific literature |
Data gaps
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 product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
10524 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Wildlife and environmental toxicity | Open scientific literature |
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Informational
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Not likely to be a any irritant in humans | Open scientific literature |
- Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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 SCORESHazard 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.
Data availability
The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.