EWG Skin Deep® | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Mamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™

Data Availability:

Limited

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Mamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo

WHERE TO BUY

Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, EWG earns from qualifying purchases.

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.

WATER

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	solvent
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STEARYL ALCOHOL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	emulsion stabilizer, fragrance ingredient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - foambooster, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous, emollient, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, masking, opacifying, refatting, surfactant, viscosity controlling
CONCERNS	• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
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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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COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous;skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient, hair conditioning, masking, skin conditioning, solvent
CONCERNS	• Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Multiple, additive exposure sources (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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BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic agent, hair conditioning agent, antistatic, hair conditioning, preservative
CONCERNS	• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (high) • Use restrictions (high) • Neurotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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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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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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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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TOCOPHEROL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous;skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin conditioning
CONCERNS	• Cancer (low) • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low) • Endocrine disruption (low) • Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
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POLYQUATERNIUM-7

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	antistatic agent, film former, hair fixative, antistatic, film forming
CONCERNS	• Use restrictions (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate) • Ecotoxicology (low) • Contamination concerns (ACRYLAMIDE)
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MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA (MACADAMIA) NUT OIL
Appeared as: MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, emollient
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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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ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE
Appeared as: ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE

Data Availability: Limited

CONCERNS	• Cancer (moderate) • Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low) • Use restrictions (low)
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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)
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HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	binder, emulsion stabilizer, film former, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, binding, emulsion stabilising, film forming, stabilising, viscosity controlling
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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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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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MANNITOL

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	binder, flavoring agent, humectant, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, binding, masking, moisturising, skin conditioning
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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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CELLULOSE

Data Availability: Robust

FUNCTION(S)	absorbent, bulking agent, slip modifier, bulking, opacifying, viscosity controlling
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HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	adhesive, binder, emulsion stabilizer, film former, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous, antistatic, binding, emulsion stabilising, film forming, surfactant, viscosity controlling
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CI 77499
Appeared as: IRON OXIDES

Data Availability: Fair

FUNCTION(S)	colorant, cosmetic colorant
CONCERNS	• Enhanced skin absorption • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
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CAPRYLIC/ CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE

Data Availability: Limited

FUNCTION(S)	fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive
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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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Ingredients from packaging:

WATER, STEARYL ALCOHOL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER*^, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, CETYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, PANTHENOL, FRAGRANCE (ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND), CHARCOAL POWDER, MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL, TOCOPHEROL, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, SALIX NIGRA (WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, GLYCERIN (VEGETABLE), SODIUM PALM KERNELATE, SODIUM SHEA BUTTERATE, SODIUM COCOATE, MANNITOL, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) POD ASH, CELLULOSE, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, IRON OXIDES, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, TRIETHYL CITRATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BENZOIC ACID

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