amber
PEG-8
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Nivea Men Deep Rapid Acne Clear Face Wash 150mL
Is Nivea Men Deep Rapid Acne Clear Face Wash 150mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 6 ingredients (6 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
6 caution
6 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Salicylic Acid
BHA exfoliant; topical use restricted during pregnancy at high concentrations (oral aspirin equivalence).
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
Trisodium EDTA
Chelating agent — generally tolerated but documented MCAS trigger in case reports.
amber
CI 16035
Same dye as Red 40 used in cosmetics.
Full ingredients (from label)
AquaGlycerinMyristic AcidPalmitic AcidStearic AcidPotassium HydroxideLauric AcidGlyceryl StearatePEG-8CelluloseCera AlbaMicrocrystalline CelluloseMineral SaltsSalicylic AcidGarcinia Cambogia Fruit ExtractCarnitineMagnolia Officinalis Bark ExtractGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractAcrylates CopolymerSodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateMentholArachidic AcidCalcium CarbonateOleic AcidSodium Lauryl SulfateLinaloolLimoneneTrisodium EDTAParfumCI 16035CI 77268:1
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.