EWG Skin Deep® | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub, W/

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™

Data Availability:

Limited

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash & Scrub, W/ Tamarind & Tea Tree Oil (2019 formulation)

WHERE TO BUY

Google search

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
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - emulsifying agent, emulsifying
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

JOJOBA ESTERS

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, moisturising, skin conditioning, soothing
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

POLYSORBATE-60

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent, emulsifying
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low) • Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, emollient, emulsifying
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM PALM KERNELATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, viscosity increasing agent -aqueous, cleansing, emulsifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM SHEABUTTERAMPHOACETATE
Appeared as: SODIUM SHEA BUTTERATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	cleansing, surfactant
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SODIUM COCOATE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, cleansing, emulsifying, surfactant
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

THEOBROMA CACAO (CACAO) EXTRACT
Appeared as: THEOBROMA CACAO POD ASH (COCOA)

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	not reported, skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

SALIX NIGRA (BLACK WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT
Appeared as: SALIX NIGRA (WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	not reported, skin protecting
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

ORMENIS MULTICAULIS OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient
CONCERNS	• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Enhanced skin absorption
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

BISABOLOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, masking, skin conditioning, soothing
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Use restrictions (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF EXTRACT
Appeared as: MELAEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

TAMARINDUS INDICA FRUIT EXTRACT

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

PANTHENOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	hair conditioning agent, antistatic, hair conditioning, skin conditioning
CONCERNS	• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

POTASSIUM 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)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

GLYCERYL UNDECYLENATE

Data Availability: None

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, emollient, emulsifying, skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

WATER, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE), MYRISTYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED OIL, MYRISTIC ACID, COCONUT ACID, JOJOBA ESTERS, POLYSORBATE 60, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER*#, FRAGRANCE (ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND), SODIUM PALM KERNELATE, SODIUM SHEA BUTTERATE, SODIUM COCOATE, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) POD ASH, SALIX NIGRA (WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT, SALICYLIC ACID, NIGELLA SATIVA SEED OIL, ORMENIS MULTICAULIS OIL, BISABOLOL, MELAEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, TAMARINDUS INDICA FRUIT EXTRACT, PANTHENOL, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, GLYCERYL UNDECYLENATE

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