amber
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Ostensibly 'gentle' but ACDS Allergen of the Year 2004. Contains DMAPA/amidoamine impurities.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Nivea Refreshing Face Wash Gel Cleanser With Lotus Flower 150mL
Is Nivea Refreshing Face Wash Gel Cleanser With Lotus Flower 150mL 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
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Strong surfactant that strips skin lipids. Worsens eczema, rosacea and psoriasis barrier issues.
amber
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Polyquaternium-10
Documented respiratory and skin sensitiser. Common MCAS and asthma trigger.
Svanes et al. Bergen Respiratory Health Study, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018
amber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative — generally well-tolerated but documented as MCAS and contact-dermatitis trigger in sensitive individuals.
amber
Methylparaben
Weakly oestrogenic preservatives. Endocrine concerns particularly relevant for hormonal conditions.
amber
Triethanolamine
Can react with nitrosating preservatives to form nitrosamines (carcinogenic).
Full ingredients (from label)
AquaCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium Myreth SulfateAcrylates CopolymerGlycerinNelumbo Nucifera Flower ExtractTocopherolTocopheryl AcetateLauryl GlucosideSodium Lauryl SulfatePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl PalmateBenzophenone-4Sodium ChloridePolyquaternium-10Sodium HydroxidePhenoxyethanolMethylparabenEthylparabenSodium SulfateGeraniolBenzyl AlcoholLinaloolTriethanolamineParfumCI 42090CI 16035
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.