amber
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Ostensibly 'gentle' but ACDS Allergen of the Year 2004. Contains DMAPA/amidoamine impurities.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Nivea Men Deep Anti Blackhead Face Scrub With Charcoal 75mL
Is Nivea Men Deep Anti Blackhead Face Scrub With Charcoal 75mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 10 ingredients (10 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
10 caution
10 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Acrylates Copolymer
Synthetic polymer film-former. Microplastic concern (rinse-off products), low-grade monomer-residue concern.
amber
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Decyl Glucoside
Plant-derived surfactant — rising contact-allergy rates in patch-test panels.
amber
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Common solubiliser; same 1,4-dioxane contamination risk as other PEGs.
amber
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Strong surfactant that strips skin lipids. Worsens eczema, rosacea and psoriasis barrier issues.
amber
Trisodium EDTA
Chelating agent — generally tolerated but documented MCAS trigger in case reports.
amber
Alcohol Denat
Strips skin barrier — flares eczema, rosacea and psoriasis.
Full ingredients (from label)
AquaMicrocrystalline CelluloseCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium Myreth SulfateAcrylates CopolymerPEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl PalmateDecyl GlucosideChar- coal PowderGlycerinSodium ChloridePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilSodium HydroxideBenzophenone-4Sodium Lauryl SulfateTrisodium EDTAAlcohol Denat.PhenoxyethanolMethylparabenLinaloolLimoneneParfumIngredient listings for our products might change over time with new innovations. Whilst we try to update this as quickly as we canits best to check the ingredients on your packaging to ensure its suitable for your needs.
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.