red
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Banned in many US states for nail use. Severe sensitiser and respiratory hazard.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser SPF 15 118mL
Is Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser SPF 15 118mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 9 ingredients (1 in the avoid tier, 8 caution) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
1 avoid8 caution
9 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Octocrylene
Chemical UV filter. Photoallergen risk and benzophenone breakdown over time.
Downs et al. Chemical Research in Toxicology 2021 (benzophenone degradation)
amber
Cyclopentasiloxane
EU PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic). Restricted in rinse-off cosmetics.
amber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Common UVA filter — degrades in sunlight unless stabilised.
amber
PEG-100 Stearate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative — generally well-tolerated but documented as MCAS and contact-dermatitis trigger in sensitive individuals.
amber
Triethanolamine
Can react with nitrosating preservatives to form nitrosamines (carcinogenic).
amber
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Synthetic polymer film-former. Microplastic concern (rinse-off products), low-grade monomer-residue concern.
Full ingredients (from label)
AquaOctocryleneDiisopropyl AdipateCyclopentasiloxaneGlycerinButyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneGlyceryl StearatePEG-100 StearatePolymethyl MethacrylatePhenoxyethanolBenzyl AlcoholTriethanolamineAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerTocopheryl AcetateCarbomerDisodium EDTA. FIL 0112.V02
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.