EWG Skin Deep® | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub (2019

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™

Data Availability:

Limited

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub (2019 formulation)

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Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

LOW

Cancer
HIGH

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
MODERATE

Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

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

WATER

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	solvent
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DECYL GLUCOSIDE

Data Availability: Limited

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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CETYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsion stabilizer, fragrance ingredient, opacifying agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent;surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, viscosity increasing agent -nonaqueous, emollient, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, masking, opacifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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GLYCERIN
Appeared as: GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE)

Data Availability: Good

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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MYRISTYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsion stabilizer, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant -foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous, emollient, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
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STEARIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

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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COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic agent, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous;surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, antistatic, cleansing, foam boosting, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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MYRISTIC ACID

Data Availability: Fair

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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MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, skin conditioning
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COCONUT FATTY ACID
Appeared as: COCONUT ACID

Data Availability: Limited

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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JOJOBA ESTERS

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, moisturising, skin conditioning, soothing
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ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) POWDER
Appeared as: ORYZA SATIVA POWDER

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	bulking agent, bulking
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) • Contamination concerns (PESTICIDES)
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GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low)
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CETEARYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsion stabilizer, opacifying agent, surfactant - foam booster, viscosity increasingagent - aqueous, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous, emollient, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, opacifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling
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SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - emulsifying agent, emulsifying
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BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER
Appeared as: BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER*~ (SHEA)

Data Availability: Limited

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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SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling
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TAMARINDUS INDICA FRUIT EXTRACT

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning
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SALICYLIC ACID

Data Availability: Good

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)
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PANTHENOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	hair conditioning agent, antistatic, hair conditioning, skin conditioning
CONCERNS	• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
Appeared as: CHARCOAL POWDER

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	abrasive, absorbent, colorant, opacifying agent, cosmetic colorant
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MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL

Data Availability: Limited

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)
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NIGELLA SATIVA (BLACK CUMIN) SEED OIL
Appeared as: NIGELLA SATIVA SEED OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, perfuming, skin conditioning
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BISABOLOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, masking, skin conditioning, soothing
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (moderate)
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HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous, emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning, surfactant, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	cosmetic astringent, emulsion stabilizer, film former, fragrance ingredient;skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, viscosity increasing agent- nonaqueous, emollient, film forming
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
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SODIUM PALM KERNELATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent -aqueous, cleansing, emulsifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling
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SODIUM SHEABUTTERAMPHOACETATE
Appeared as: SODIUM SHEA BUTTERATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	cleansing, surfactant
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SODIUM COCOATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, cleansing, emulsifying, surfactant
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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THEOBROMA CACAO (CACAO) EXTRACT
Appeared as: THEOBROMA CACAO POD ASH (COCOA)

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	not reported, skin conditioning
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OCTANOHYDROXAMIC ACID
Appeared as: CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID

Data Availability: Limited

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GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, emollient, emulsifying
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption
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TRIETHYL CITRATE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, plasticizer, antioxidant, deodorant, masking, plasticiser, solvent
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CAPRYLYL GLYCOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, hair conditioning, humectant, skin conditioning
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BENZOIC ACID

Data Availability: Good

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, preservative, bulking, masking
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
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POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE
Appeared as: POTTASIUM HYDROXIDE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	ph adjuster, buffering
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Occupational hazards (high)
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FRAGRANCE
Appeared as: FRAGRANCE (ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND)

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	deodorant, masking, perfuming
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Endocrine disruption (moderate) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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Ingredients from packaging:

WATER, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE), MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE, MYRISTIC ACID, MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL, COCONUT ACID, JOJOBA ESTERS, ORYZA SATIVA POWDER, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER*~, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, TAMARINDUS INDICA FRUIT EXTRACT, SALICYLIC ACID, PANTHENOL, CHARCOAL POWDER, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL, NIGELLA SATIVA SEED OIL, BISABOLOL, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, SODIUM PALM KERNELATE, SODIUM SHEA BUTTERATE, SODIUM COCOATE, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) POD ASH, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, TRIETHYL CITRATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BENZOIC ACID, POTTASIUM HYDROXIDE, FRAGRANCE (ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND)

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.

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