amber
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Ostensibly 'gentle' but ACDS Allergen of the Year 2004. Contains DMAPA/amidoamine impurities.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser Sensitive Skin 236mL
Is Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser Sensitive Skin 236mL 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
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Mandelic Acid
Exfoliants — can sting and flare rosacea/eczema if barrier is compromised.
rosaceaeczema
amber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative — generally well-tolerated but documented as MCAS and contact-dermatitis trigger in sensitive individuals.
amber
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent — generally tolerated but documented MCAS trigger in case reports.
amber
Salicylic Acid
BHA exfoliant; topical use restricted during pregnancy at high concentrations (oral aspirin equivalence).
Full ingredients (from label)
AquaGlycerinCocamidopropyl BetaineCoco-GlucosideGluconolactoneBetainePeg-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateSodium CocoamphoacetateGlycereth-26PanthenolMandelic AcidSodium CitrateSodium HydroxidePhenoxyethanolCitric AcidEthylhexylglycerinDisodium EdtaNiacinamideSalicylic AcidPantolactoneTocopherolHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil. Fil.1904.V00
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.