Vanicream Skin Cream (2006 formulation) || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

VANICREAM SKIN CREAM (2006 FORMULATION)

last updated: 05/01/06 brand: Vanicream by Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc.

SCORE

moderate hazard (out of 10)

74%

data gap

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33% of moisturizers have lower concerns

COMPANY POLICIES

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-signer: This company has not signed the Compact.

Animal Testing Policy
This company's animal testing policy is unknown.

Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.

Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Ingredients from packaging: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: AN OIL-IN-WATER EMULSION TYPE VANISHING CREAM BASE COMPOSED OF: PURIFIED WATER; WHITE PETROLATUM; CETEARYL ALCOHOL AND CETEARETH-20; SORBITOL SOLUTION; PROPYLENE GLYCOL; SIMETHICONE; GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE; POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE; SORBIC ACID; BHT .

user reviews & comments

coloradoboys3

"Very creamy product, perfect for dry winter days at 8500 feet elevation. Stays on and does not cause break outs. ..."

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
CETEARETH-20	5	71%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE 1000	4	76%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)
BHT	6	61%	Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
PROPYLENE GLYCOL	4	60%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption
SORBIC ACID	3	80%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
WHITE PETROLATUM	2	94%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (PAHS)
CETEARYL ALCOHOL	0	93%	none identified
GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE	1	88%	none identified
SORBITOL	1	88%	none identified
SIMETHICONE	0	100%	none identified
WATER (PURIFIED)	0	0%	innocuous

Cancer*

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		SORBITOL, SORBIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen		BHT

Developmental/reproductive toxicity*

*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses		BHT
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses		PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Violations, restrictions & warnings*

*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE 1000, CETEARETH-20

Neurotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses		PROPYLENE GLYCOL
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low doses		BHT
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		CETEARETH-20

Endocrine disruption*

*This table includes all possible endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses		BHT

Allergies/immunotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity		PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence		SORBIC ACID
Known human immune system toxicant		BHT

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*

*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful		WHITE PETROLATUM
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)	products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips	PROPYLENE GLYCOL
One or more animal studies show gastrointestinal effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		SORBITOL
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity		SORBIC ACID, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE 1000
One or more animal studies show blood effects at low doses		BHT,
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses	products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips	CETEARETH-20

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*

*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		CETEARETH-20, BHT
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses		SORBIC ACID
Classified as skin irritant		PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Data gaps*

*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		SORBIC ACID
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE 1000, SIMETHICONE, SORBITOL, WHITE PETROLATUM
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		BHT, CETEARYL ALCOHOL

Occupational hazards*

*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses		BHT

Biochemical or cellular level changes*

*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		BHT
One or more animal studies show blood sugar changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		PROPYLENE GLYCOL