Soothing Body Wash (2019 formulation)

These describe what an ingredient is, not whether it is a problem. The stance marks above are the ratings; these are not.

• common irritantCOCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, QUATERNIUM-15

  • COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: A mild cleansing agent, but a recurring patch-test finding, usually traced to leftovers from how it is made. American Contact Dermatitis Society, Allergen of the Year 2004 (Fowler JF Jr, Dermatitis 2004;15(1):3-4).
  • QUATERNIUM-15: A preservative the EU no longer permits in cosmetics; the ban followed a reproductive-toxicity classification and a finding that its safety could not be established. Prohibited in cosmetics by EU Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex II entry 1386 (cis-1-(3-chlorallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride, quaternium-15, CAS 51229-78-8), inserted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/831, which simultaneously deleted its Annex V entry 31 permitting it as a preservative. Recital 6 of that Regulation gives TWO grounds, not one: the cis-isomer "has been classified as a CMR substance of category 2", AND the SCCS opinion of 13 to 14 December 2011 concluded that "on the basis of the available data the safety of Quaternium-15 for use in cosmetic products cannot be established". The underlying classification is Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI index 612-251-00-9, inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) 790/2009: Flam. Sol. 2, Repr. 2 (H361d, "suspected of damaging the unborn child"), Acute Tox. 4, Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Skin Sens. 1 (H317) and Aquatic Chronic 2. That entry carries no carcinogenicity classification of any kind. Skin Sens. 1 and Skin Irrit. 2 in the same entry are the harmonised classification behind this row's tag, so the tag rests on a sensitisation finding rather than on the reproductive-toxicity ground for the ban.

• humectantGLYCERIN

  • GLYCERIN: A humectant, and one of the two ingredients a comparison of moisturiser components found made a significant difference to skin hydration. FDA OTC skin protectant monograph, 21 CFR 347.10(h), lists glycerin as a skin protectant at 20 to 45%. On the humectant half: Jeong CB, Han JY, Cho JC, Suh KD, Nam GW, "Analysis of electrical property changes of skin by oil-in-water emulsion components", Int J Cosmet Sci 2013;35(4):402-410, DOI 10.1111/ics.12059, PMID 23621673, found that "glycerine and urea showed significant skin hydration effects compared with other humectants".

• soothingAVENA SATIVA KERNEL FLOUR

  • AVENA SATIVA KERNEL FLOUR: One of the ingredients the FDA recognises by name as an over-the-counter skin protectant for irritation and itching. FDA OTC skin protectant monograph, 21 CFR 347.10(f): "Colloidal oatmeal, 0.007 percent minimum; 0.003 percent minimum in combination with mineral oil in accordance with 347.20(a)(4)."; section 347.50(b)(4) gives it the indication "temporarily protects and helps relieve minor skin irritation and itching due to:" followed by at least one of rashes, eczema, poison ivy/oak/sumac, or insect bites. The indication is conditional on naming a cause; the same opening phrase also serves sodium bicarbonate at (b)(5), so the phrase alone does not identify oatmeal.