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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Limonene

  • 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

Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

● DB-053490
● DB-072716
● FT-0603053
● CS-0009072
● 4-(1-METHYLETHENYL)-1-METHYL-CYCLOHEXENE
● CYCLOHEXENE, 1-METHYL-4-(1-METHYLETHYNYL)
● FT-0605227
● 1-METHYL-4-(1-METHYLVINYL)CYCLOHEX-1-ENE
● 8022-90-0
● DIPENTENE [UN2052] [FLAMMABLE LIQUID]

Restricted

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

Limonene is a scent ingredient and solvent naturally ocurring in the rind of citrus fruit. Upon storage and exposure to sunlight and air, limonene degrades to various oxidation products which act as skin and respiratory irritants and sensitizers.

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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conditioner1361 products
shampoo1543 products
styling gel/lotion477 products
hair spray415 products
fragrance for men425 products
toothpaste42 products
after shave76 products
facial moisturizer/treatment855 products
antiperspirant/deodorant381 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)138 products
body spray294 products
fragrance for women978 products
moisturizer909 products
exfoliant/scrub369 products
foot moisturizer49 products
hand cream301 products
body wash/cleanser748 products
shaving cream (men's)31 products
anti-aging79 products
facial cleanser413 products
shaving cream63 products
sunless tanning132 products
hair treatment/serum924 products
hair styling aid863 products
styling mousse/foam159 products
hair-loss treatment16 products
mask500 products
body oil147 products
baby oil11 products
mouthwash8 products
serums & essences402 products
around-eye cream63 products
eyelash glue12 products
tanning oil8 products
vapor rubs2 products
lip balm461 products
bronzer/highlighter64 products
nail polish18 products
polish remover30 products
toners/astringents107 products
bath oil/salts/soak222 products
hair color and bleaching140 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays4 products
oil controller9 products
concealer150 products
liquid hand soap349 products
mascara19 products
lipstick461 products
body firming lotion169 products
foot cleansing10 products
nail treatment20 products
bar soap268 products
bubble bath48 products
skin fading/lightener11 products
hair relaxer15 products
detangler68 products
setting powder/spray49 products
daily use with SPF97 products
Other Hair Care Preparations6 products
lip gloss368 products
cuticle treatment13 products
body powder10 products
depilatory8 products
brow liner10 products
foundation497 products
beard oil24 products
hand sanitizer58 products
makeup remover43 products
Oils & Serums20 products
Hair Styling Gel40 products
damaged skin treatment7 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders20 products
beard care29 products
facial powder11 products
lip plumper71 products
BB cream11 products
after sun product12 products
makeup primer83 products
CC cream31 products
Face Wipes3 products
beard cleanser12 products
recreational sunscreen26 products
baby lotion21 products
baby shampoo21 products
baby soap19 products
lip balm with SPF10 products
baby wipes6 products
muscle/joint soreness15 products
baby sunscreen4 products
diaper cream7 products
baby powder4 products
baby bubble bath4 products
blush81 products
eye shadow24 products
other eye makeup1 products
glitter3 products
eye makeup remover3 products
foot odor control5 products
nail glue3 products
Exfoliants6 products
hair removal waxes5 products
lip liner11 products
Beard Soaps1 products
Preshave Preparations7 products
Wipes3 products
Lip Stain7 products
eye liner6 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream1 products
tooth whitening3 products
baby toothpaste1 products
pore strips1 products
Fragrance Powder1 products
Facial Cleansing Water2 products
other men's products2 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle1 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
Bath and Body Wipes1 products
depilatory (men's)1 products
Top Coats and Sealers1 products

Contamination concerns

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Chemical
FORMALDEHYDE

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high dosesStudies on d-limonene as a gallstone solubilizer (VII) Effects on development of mouse fetuses and offsprings(1977-01-01)

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humansInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Known human toxicant or allergenEU Cosmetics Directive
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Possible human immune system toxicant or allergenEuropean Union
Human toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesUS. National Library of Medicine,

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicityEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as any irritantEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Classified as skin irritantEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Miscellaneous

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Occupational hazards related to handlingEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics - labeling requirement for allergensEU Cosmetics Directive

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeOSPAR Comission
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifePeer Reviewed Literature

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)
  • Studies on d-limonene as a gallstone solubilizer (VII) Effects on development of mouse fetuses and offsprings(1977-01-01)
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
  • EU Cosmetics Directive
  • EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
  • European Union
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • US. National Library of Medicine,
  • Environment Canada
  • OSPAR Comission
  • Peer Reviewed Literature
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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.

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