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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Product score: 04

Data Availability:

Limited

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Problem Skin Facial Wash & Scrub (2016 formulation)

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Problem Skin Facial Wash & Scrub (2016 formulation)

WHERE TO BUY

CATEGORY

Exfoliant/Scrub

BRAND

Shea Moisture

DATA LAST UPDATED

November 2016

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Appeared as: DEIONIZED WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
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Ingredient score: 01
ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) KERNEL OIL
Appeared as: AFRICAN BLACK SOAP
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant - emulsifying agent, emulsifying
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
GLYCERIN
Appeared as: GLYCERINE
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, humectant, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent, perfuming, solvent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 04
EMULSIFYING WAX
Appeared as: VEGETABLE EMULSIFYING WAX
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
STEARIC ACID
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agentsurfactant-cleansing agent is included as a function for the soap form of stearic acid., cleansing, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, masking, refatting, surfactant
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
MYRISTIC ACID
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, opacifying agent, surfactant - cleansing agentsurfactant-cleansing agent is included as a function for the soap form of myristic acid., cleansing, emulsifying, perfuming
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
COCONUT FATTY ACID
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant - cleansing agentsurfactant-cleansing agent is included as a function for the soap form of coconut acid., cleansing, emollient, emulsifying, surfactant
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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Ingredient score: 03
DECYL GLUCOSIDE
Appeared as: DECYL GLUCOSIDE (COCONUT OIL)
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant - cleansing agent, cleansing, emulsion stabilising, surfactant
CONCERNS • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 03
SALICYLIC ACID
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) antiacne agent, antidandruff agent, corn/callus/wart remover, denaturant, exfoliant;fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, antidandruff, hair conditioning, keratolytic, masking, preservative, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, viscosityincreasing agent - nonaqueous, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
PUNICA GRANATUM (POMEGRANATE) SEED OIL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient
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Ingredient score: 02
BISABOLOL
Appeared as: BISABOLOL (CHAMOMILE)
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, masking, skin conditioning, soothing
CONCERNS • Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
NIGELLA SATIVA (BLACK CUMIN) SEED OIL
Appeared as: NIGELLA SATIVA (BLACK) SEED OIL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, perfuming, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE
Appeared as: ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
TAMARINDUS INDICA EXTRACT
Appeared as: TAMARINDUS INDICA (TAMARIND) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) not reported, keratolytic, smoothing
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Ingredient score: 01
OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) OIL
Appeared as: OLEA EUROPEA (OLIVE) OIL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, perfuming
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
TANACETUM ANNUUM (BLUE TANSY) OIL
Appeared as: MOROCCAN CAMOMILE SAUVIGE OIL
Data Availability: None
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Ingredient score: 01
VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS (BILBERRY) EXTRACT
Appeared as: VACCINIUM MYRTILUS (BILBERRY) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, astringent, refreshing, skin conditioning, tonic
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Ingredient score: 01
SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, moisturising, skin conditioning
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Ingredient score: 01
ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT
Appeared as: SUGAR MAPLE EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) not reported, keratolytic
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Ingredient score: 02
CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA (BITTER ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT
Appeared as: CITRUS AURANTUIM (ORANGE) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, perfuming
CONCERNS • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 05
CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) PEEL EXTRACT
Appeared as: CITRUS MEDICA LIMONIUM (LEMON) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) not reported
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 06
MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL
Appeared as: TEA TREE OIL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, perfuming
CONCERNS • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Deionized Water, African Black Soap, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Glycerine, Vegetable Emulsifying. Wax, Stearic Acid, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, Myristic Acid, Coconut Fatty Acid, Decyl Glucoside (Coconut Oil), Salicylic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Bisabolol (Chamomile), Nigella Sativa (Black) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) extract, Olea Europea (Olive) Oil, Moroccan Camomile Sauvige Oil, Vaccinium Myrtilus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Sugar Maple Extract, Citrus Aurantuim (Orange) Extract, Citrus Medica Limonium (lemon) Extract, Tea Tree Oil.

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


PETA Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG

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.

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