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Ingredient has a concern that requires further explanation

Understanding this score

Lead impurities in bentonite clay

Bentonite is a colloidal clay that has the ability to absorb excess oil and dirt from the skin, making it a common ingredient in skin care products. Bentonite clays have the potential to contain traces of heavy metals, including lead as an impurity. According to the World Health Organization, there is no known safe blood lead concentration.

The Food and Drug Administration has established a guidance level for lead in lipstick of less than 10 parts per million, at which incidental exposures of cosmetic lip products cannot be measured in routine blood testing. However, the frequent and long-term use of cosmetics containing lead raises the risk of cumulative exposure.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry does not consider the dermal pathway to be a significant exposure route of lead exposure for the general population.

Mineral forms are not readily absorbed through the skin but may be absorbed when ingested. In 2016, the FDA reported a case where a bentonite clay contained lead at levels that exceeded the limit for impurities.

Therefore, bentonite clay score, as well as other clays, is provided as a range to reflect the incidental lead exposure based on product type (for example, lip and facial products).

Data: Fair

Bentonite

Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements and may have contamination concerns from toxic impurities. The score will be lower if used in products that do meet these safety guidelines and requirements and EWG’s contamination restrictions.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● SOAP CLAY

● SOUTHERN BENTONITE

● PANTHER CREEK BENTONITE

● Q20817027

● IMVITE I.G.B.A

● HI-JEL

● BENTONITE 2073

● ALBAGEL PREMIUM USP 4444

● BENTONITE MAGMA

● BENTONITE

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Bentonite is a native hydrated colloidal aluminum silicate clay. This ingredient is not anapproved colorant for the US. To identify the colorant allowed for use in the European Union (EU), theINCI Name CI 77004 must be used, except for hair d ye products.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

LOW

Cancer
LOW

Allergies & Immunotoxicity
LOW

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
MODERATE

Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

CONCERNS
DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

conditioner	3 products
styling gel/lotion	21 products
mask	400 products
exfoliant/scrub	47 products
facial cleanser	47 products
toothpaste	31 products
facial powder	5 products
eye liner	8 products
facial moisturizer/treatment	27 products
around-eye cream	9 products
antiperspirant/deodorant	29 products
makeup primer	10 products
bath oil/salts/soak	10 products
bubble bath	1 products
pore strips	7 products
hand cream	4 products
shampoo	22 products
recreational sunscreen	42 products
daily use with SPF	22 products
hair styling aid	40 products
mascara	18 products
moisturizer	15 products
baby powder	7 products
tooth whitening	7 products
brow liner	27 products
concealer	45 products
body wash/cleanser	19 products
diaper cream	2 products
oil controller	1 products
Under Eye Concealers	5 products
body powder	2 products
nail polish	7 products
hair treatment/serum	10 products
bar soap	18 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders	1 products
lip balm	1 products
foundation	68 products
BB cream	2 products
foot moisturizer	1 products
baby lotion	4 products
anti-aging	2 products
shaving cream (men's)	12 products
shaving cream	7 products
hair color and bleaching	8 products
body spray	1 products
hand sanitizer	1 products
eye shadow	13 products
serums & essences	6 products
foot cleansing	1 products
baby sunscreen	10 products
lipstick	26 products
toners/astringents	3 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)	3 products
liquid hand soap	1 products
body firming lotion	2 products
setting powder/spray	2 products
eyelash glue	1 products
hair removal waxes	1 products
Facial Sun Care	1 products
damaged skin treatment	1 products
bronzer/highlighter	5 products
acne treatment	1 products
foot odor control	1 products
nail treatment	1 products
Oils & Serums	1 products

Contamination concerns

Chemical
LEAD

Multiple, additive exposure sources

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food	US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

CONCERN	REFERENCE
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	Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any	Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Use restrictions

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panel	Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful	Environment Canada
Classified as a low human health priority	Environment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative	Environment Canada

Ecotoxicology

CONCERN	REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin	Environment Canada

US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Environment Canada

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified^® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST

Low Availability

Moderate Availability

High Availability