red
Talc
Risk of asbestos contamination from mining. Cosmetic-grade is supposed to be tested but failures are well-documented.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Maybelline Define A Lash Mascara Very Black 6.5mL
Is Maybelline Define A Lash Mascara Very Black 6.5mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 9 ingredients (2 in the avoid tier, 7 caution) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
2 avoid7 caution
9 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
red
PTFE
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Persistent in body and environment. Linked to immune, thyroid and reproductive effects.
amber
Triethanolamine
Can react with nitrosating preservatives to form nitrosamines (carcinogenic).
amber
PEG-40 Stearate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Methylparaben
Weakly oestrogenic preservatives. Endocrine concerns particularly relevant for hormonal conditions.
amber
BHT
Endocrine concerns at high exposure levels.
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
CI 77891/ Titanium Dioxide
Banned as a food additive in the EU (2022) due to nano-particle genotoxicity concerns. Inhalation classified IARC Group 2B.
Full ingredients (from label)
INGREDIENTS: WATER/AQUAPARAFFINCERA ALBA/BEESWAXACACIA/ACACIA SENEGAL GUMSTEARIC ACIDCARNAUBA/CARNAUBA WAXPALMITIC ACIDTRIETHANOLAMINETALCPTFEHYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSEPEG-40 STEARATEAMINOMETHYL PROPANEDIOLPANTHENOLMETHYLPARABENRAYONSODIUM POLYMETHACRYLATEPROPYLPARABENSYNTHETIC BEESWAXPHENYL TRIMETHICONESIMETHICONEHYDROXYPROPYL CHITOSANBHT2-OLEAMIDO-13 OCTADECANEDIOLPOLYQUATERNIUM-10ACRYLATES/VP COPOLYMER. MAY CONTAIN: +/- CI 77491CI 77499CI 77492/IRON OXIDESCI 77891/ TITANIUM DIOXIDEMICACI 75470/CARMINECI 77007/ULTRAMARINESCI 77288/CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENSCI 77289/CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREENCI 77742/MANGANESE VIOLETCI 77510/FERRIC FERROCYANIDE FIL D26393/4Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use.
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.