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Product score: 04

Data Availability:

Limited

BIOFREEZE Cold Therapy Pain Relief Gel

BIOFREEZE Cold Therapy Pain Relief Gel

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CATEGORY

Muscle/Joint Soreness

BRAND

Biofreeze

DATA LAST UPDATED

April 2024

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

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

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 03
MENTHOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, masking, refreshing, soothing, external analgesic, flavoring agent, fragrance ingredient, oral health caredrug
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) external analgesic, humectant, oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient;skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
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Ingredient score: 02
ARNICA MONTANA (ARNICA) FLOWER EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
ARCTIUM LAPPA (BURDOCK) ROOT EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 01
BOSWELLIA CARTERII (FRANKINCENSE) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
CALEDULA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 01
CARBOMER
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilising, gel forming, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (METHACRYLIC ACID, ACRYLIC ACID, and BENZENE)
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Ingredient score: 02
CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, emollient, humectant, masking, oral care, skin conditioning, skin protecting, tonic, uv absorber, fragrance ingredient, oral care agent, skin-conditioning agent -miscellaneous, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
CAMPHOR
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, masking, plasticiser, external analgesic, fragrance ingredient, plasticizer
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
GLYCERIN
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
ILEX PARAGUARIENSIS (MATE) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 02
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antifoaming, perfuming, solvent, viscosity controlling, antifoaming agent, fragrance ingredient, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
• Occupational hazards (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) binding, emollient, perfuming, skin conditioning, solvent, binder, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Enhanced skin absorption
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Ingredient score: 01
MELISSA OFFICINALIS (LEMON BALM) LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, skin-conditioning agent -occlusive
CONCERNS • Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
SILICA, AMORPHOUS
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) abrasive, absorbent, anticaking, opacifying, anticaking agent, bulking agent, opacifying agent, suspending agent- nonsurfactant
CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (low)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 06
TRIETHANOLAMINE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) buffering, emulsifying, masking, surfactant, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, surfactant - emulsifying agent
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
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Ingredient score: 03
CI 42090 (FD&C Blue No. 1 or D&C Blue No. 4)
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) hair dyeing, colorant
CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (high)
• Neurotoxicity (low)
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (ANILINE and CADMIUM)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 04
FD&C Yellow No. 5 (CI 19140)
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) colorant
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Neurotoxicity (moderate)
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (BIPHENYL-2-YLAMINE, CADMIUM, and 1-napthylamine)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Active Ingredients: Menthol 4% (USP), Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract, Boswellia Carterii Resin Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Camphor USP, Glycerin, Llex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Triethanolamine, Purified Water USP, Blue 1, Yellow 5

Directions from packaging:

Adults and children 2 years of age and older: rub a thin film over affected areas not more than 4 times daily; massage not necessaryChildren under 2 years of age: consult a physician Store in a cool dry place with lid closed tightly

Warnings from packaging:

For external use onlyFlammable: Keep away from excessive heat or open flameAsk a doctor before use if you have: sensitive skinWhen using this productavoid contact with the eyes or mucous membranesdo not apply to wounds or damaged skindo not use with other ointments, creams, sprays or linimentsdo not apply to irritated skin or if excessive irritation develops do not bandagewash hands after use with cool waterdo not use with heating pad or deviceStop use and ask a doctor if: condition worsens, or if symptoms persist for more than 7 days, or clear up and recurIf pregnant or breast-feeding: ask a health professional before useKeep out of reach of children: if accidentally ingested, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


Unknown

Leading international certifiers PETA and Leaping Bunny have no information concerning this company’s use of animal testing.

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

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

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