Exuviance Essential Skin Lightener Gel (2006 formulation) || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

EXUVIANCE ESSENTIAL SKIN LIGHTENER GEL (2006 FORMULATION)

last updated: 05/01/06 brand: Exuviance by NeoStrata

SCORE

moderate hazard (out of 10)

67%

data gap

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29% of skin fading/lighteners 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, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Ingredients from packaging: ACTIVE INGREDIENT- HYDROQUINONE 2%, OTHER INGREDIENTS- WATER (AQUA), ALCOHOL DENAT., GLYCOLIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BISULFITE, SODIUM SULFITE, TRISODIUM EDTA, BHT.

Directions from packaging: Adults: Apply a small amount as a thin layer on the affected area twice daily, or use as directed by a physician. If no improvement is seen after 3 months of treatment, use of this product should be discontinued. Lightening effect of this product may not be noticeable when used on very dark skin. Children under 12 years of age: Do not use unless directed by a physician. Sun exposure should be limited by using a sunscreen agent, a sunblocking agent, or protective clothing to cover bleached skin, when using and after using this product to prevent darkening from reoccurring.

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
HYDROQUINONE (Active Ingredient)	10	52%	Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards
BHT	6	61%	Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
GLYCOLIC ACID	4	70%	Violations, restrictions & warnings, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
PROPYLENE GLYCOL	4	60%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption
SODIUM SULFITE	3	87%	Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
SODIUM BISULFITE	3	75%	Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
CITRIC ACID	3	72%	Violations, restrictions & warnings, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE	2	81%	Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
TRISODIUM EDTA	1	86%	Enhanced skin absorption
POLYQUATERNIUM-10	0	93%	none identified
WATER	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 non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results		AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
Limited evidence of carcinogenicity		HYDROQUINONE
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen		BHT
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM SULFITE, SODIUM BISULFITE

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)
Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence		HYDROQUINONE
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses		PROPYLENE GLYCOL
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses		GLYCOLIC ACID, BHT

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		HYDROQUINONE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics		HYDROQUINONE
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - any		HYDROQUINONE, GLYCOLIC ACID
Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Safe for brief discontinuous use followed by thorough rinsing	products that are intended to be left on the skin	HYDROQUINONE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics		CITRIC ACID, GLYCOLIC ACID
Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Allowable pH limits		GLYCOLIC ACID

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 moderate doses		GLYCOLIC ACID
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at low doses		SODIUM BISULFITE, SODIUM SULFITE, BHT
Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity		HYDROQUINONE

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, HYDROQUINONE

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)
Human immune system toxicant - moderate evidence		SODIUM SULFITE
Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity		PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Known human immune system toxicant		HYDROQUINONE, BHT

Persistence and bioaccumulation*

*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation 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)
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative		AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM BISULFITE
Not suspected to be persistent		HYDROQUINONE

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)
One or more animal studies show blood effects at low doses		BHT
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		SODIUM BISULFITE, TRISODIUM EDTA,
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 sense organ effects at very low doses	products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips	GLYCOLIC ACID, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID
Possible human immune system toxicant		SODIUM SULFITE
Known human respiratory toxicant		HYDROQUINONE

Ecotoxicology*

*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology 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)
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin		SODIUM BISULFITE
Wildlife and environmental toxicity		HYDROQUINONE, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE

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 high doses		SODIUM BISULFITE, SODIUM SULFITE
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		CITRIC ACID
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		BHT
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses		HYDROQUINONE
Human skin irritant - moderate evidence		AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
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)
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		SODIUM BISULFITE, TRISODIUM EDTA, SODIUM SULFITE, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, BHT
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID

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)
No workplace limits set		GLYCOLIC ACID
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses		HYDROQUINONE, BHT,
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses		SODIUM BISULFITE

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 biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BISULFITE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL