amber
Salicylic Acid
BHA exfoliant; topical use restricted during pregnancy at high concentrations (oral aspirin equivalence).
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Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
Is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash low tox? Our scanner flagged 8 ingredients (8 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
8 caution
8 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Ostensibly 'gentle' but ACDS Allergen of the Year 2004. Contains DMAPA/amidoamine impurities.
amber
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent — generally tolerated but documented MCAS trigger in case reports.
amber
Benzalkonium Chloride
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
Propylene Glycol
Common humectant. Documented contact allergen — especially for eczema-prone skin.
amber
Yellow 5
Implicated in childhood hyperactivity (Southampton study) and MCAS reactions.
amber
Red 40
Implicated in childhood hyperactivity (Southampton study). Banned in some EU member states.
Full ingredients (from label)
Salicylic Acid (2%)WaterSodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium ChloridePEG-80 Sorbitan LaurateCitric AcidDisodium EDTAC12-15 Alkyl LactateBenzalkonium ChlorideFragranceCocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride PhosphatePropylene GlycolAloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractChamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower ExtractSodium HydroxideYellow 5Red 40.
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.