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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Benzyl Salicylate

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (low), Endocrine disruption (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

● NSC-6647
● NSC6647
● ZINC388079
● TOX21_201869
● Z19703595
● BENZYL SALICYLATE, >=98%, FG
● HMS2268I12
● 2-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID BENZYL ESTER
● TOX21_303046
● CHEBI:165211

Restricted

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

Benzyl Salicylate is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid; this ingredient has been associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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shampoo553 products
conditioner494 products
styling gel/lotion163 products
bar soap62 products
after shave20 products
facial moisturizer/treatment186 products
fragrance for men164 products
hand cream103 products
antiperspirant/deodorant134 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)43 products
shaving cream15 products
fragrance for women487 products
foot moisturizer13 products
moisturizer308 products
shaving cream (men's)4 products
body firming lotion73 products
body wash/cleanser208 products
sunless tanning57 products
hair spray170 products
styling mousse/foam58 products
hair styling aid332 products
bronzer/highlighter31 products
nail polish8 products
facial cleanser54 products
bath oil/salts/soak65 products
hair color and bleaching54 products
mask103 products
exfoliant/scrub84 products
anti-aging22 products
concealer182 products
serums & essences80 products
body oil65 products
lip balm41 products
lipstick143 products
hair treatment/serum426 products
detangler25 products
hair relaxer8 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays1 products
Other Hair Care Preparations4 products
foundation252 products
facial powder24 products
lip gloss75 products
body spray131 products
hair-loss treatment3 products
polish remover14 products
body powder11 products
liquid hand soap102 products
depilatory5 products
bubble bath9 products
BB cream8 products
hand sanitizer11 products
Oils & Serums7 products
Hair Styling Gel8 products
damaged skin treatment4 products
daily use with SPF16 products
Lip Stain1 products
diaper cream3 products
setting powder/spray22 products
makeup primer19 products
blush36 products
nail treatment9 products
baby shampoo4 products
around-eye cream11 products
toners/astringents18 products
lip plumper12 products
lip liner14 products
cuticle treatment4 products
after sun product3 products
muscle/joint soreness1 products
eye shadow6 products
glitter3 products
foot odor control1 products
Exfoliants2 products
beard oil3 products
beard care10 products
beard cleanser4 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders3 products
recreational sunscreen5 products
hair removal waxes1 products
tanning oil2 products
baby lotion3 products
baby powder2 products
eye liner1 products
CC cream5 products
nail glue1 products
baby soap1 products
baby oil1 products
Fragrance Powder2 products
mascara1 products
makeup remover2 products
oil controller1 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products

Contamination concerns

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Chemical
SALICYLIC ACID

Endocrine disruption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Associated with endocrine disruptionOestrogenic activity of benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and butylphenylmethylpropional (Lilial) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells in vitro(2009-07-01)

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Known human toxicant or allergenEU Cosmetics Directive
Known human immune system toxicant or allergenEuropean Union
Human toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Limited evidence of dermal toxicity or allergiesEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Human toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceInternational Fragrance Association (IFRA)

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics - labeling requirement for allergensEU Cosmetics Directive
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualificationsCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Determined safe for use when formulated to avoid irritation, in assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR)Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
skin/eye/lung irritation - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show developmental and reproductive effects at moderate dosesECHA Assessment of regulatory needs: Salicylate esters(2021-08-12)
  • Oestrogenic activity of benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and butylphenylmethylpropional (Lilial) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells in vitro(2009-07-01)
  • EU Cosmetics Directive
  • European Union
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • International Fragrance Association (IFRA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Environment Canada
  • ECHA Assessment of regulatory needs: Salicylate esters(2021-08-12)

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.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

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
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

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