According to the cosmeticsdatabase.com Suave products have an average toxicity rating of 4-7. (on a scale of 0-10) ~yet further down the page there are ingredient's listed that score a 10!! yikes!~
Not every product has been tested or is listed, and not every ingredient has had enough testing done. However, they do list 95 specific Suave products on the database!
This rating is too high for my personal comfort level. I will look for something else before using this product line on my baby's innocent little head! (Though the price tag and availability is very convenient!)
A clip from the EWG (cosmeticsdatabase.com) about the brand in general ...
The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients used by this brand -- not the products -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
See HERE and scroll down for more info on the specific ingredients to watch out for!
Nothing too alarming, I suppose, but also not something I want to take too lightly. After all, as someone who's had allergies my whole life, I wouldn't want to inadvertently CAUSE my child to have heightened allergies by something I was voluntarily putting on her head! That said, I certainly wouldn't judge someone who used this brand, and I may see how it works for my hubby's hair :) but I will avoid using it on my daughter and let her make the decision herself when she's old enough to know why I chose to avoid it.
Now, let's take the Suave product I'm most curious about/interested in and inspect it further :D
Ingredients list: (I have to say I LOVE a company that is forthcoming about the ingredients used! YAY Suave!!)
"Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera]*, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass]*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Dimethiconol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PEG-150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
*Certified Organic Ingredient"
Thoughts and findings ...
First impressions:
I love that they are using so many Certified Organic Ingredients - that's a great start!
There are also a lot of ingredients that are really long chemically-sounding impossible-to-pronounce names - that's a red flag :(
The nitty-gritty ...
(keep in mind that the toxicity rating does have many data gaps where not enough testing has been done. This is especially true for the lower rated ingredients.)
Water = fine :)
Cetearyl Alcohol = a naturally derived "fatty" alcohol that is not damaging or drying to the hair. It has a toxicity rating of 0-1. Not bad! Read up on alcohols in hair products HERE.
Cyclopentasiloxane = Hazard rating of 2-3 (Low to moderate) Cautionary items checked are Cancer, Organ system toxicity, and Persistence and bioaccumulation (can linger in the body tissue for years and decades after exposure). Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine = Hazard rating of 0-1. (low) Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera]*
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass]*
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract*
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*
Dimethiconol - Hazard rating of 0 - Data gaps - Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Behentrimonium Chloride - Hazard rating of 0-1. (low) Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps
Fragrance (Parfum) - Hazard rating of 8! (high) Cautionary items checked are Allergies/immunotoxicity. Emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Misc, Data gaps
Dipropylene Glycol - Hazard rating of 1. Moderate concerns are Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), and Data gaps.
Potassium Chloride - Hazard rating of 2. Concerns are Cancer, Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Data gaps.
Lactic Acid - Hazard rating 4-5. Concerns for this ingredient include Cancer, Restrictions and warnings, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Disodium EDTA - Hazard rating of 3. Concerns: Cancer, Developmental and Reproductive toxicity. Enhanced skin absorbtion. Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Endocrine Disruption, Data gaps.
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate - Hazard rating of 0. Data gaps.
PEG-150 Distearate - Hazard rating 4-6. See here for more info.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone - Hazard rating of 6. Concerns: Cancer, Restrictions and warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive).
Methylisothiazolinone - Hazard rating 6. Concerns: Restrictions and warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Neurotoxicity.
*Certified Organic Ingredient
That's a lot of numbers. and I didn't even check the Organic ingredients! If this product contained one or two ingredients with a rating higher than 1 or 2, I would use it. But when almost every ingredient has a rating, and many are quite high - it's just not a risk I'm willing to take.
What do you think?! :)
Not every product has been tested or is listed, and not every ingredient has had enough testing done. However, they do list 95 specific Suave products on the database!
This rating is too high for my personal comfort level. I will look for something else before using this product line on my baby's innocent little head! (Though the price tag and availability is very convenient!)
A clip from the EWG (cosmeticsdatabase.com) about the brand in general ...
The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients used by this brand -- not the products -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| Ingredients used by this brand: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Other concerns for ingredients used by this brand: Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards |
See HERE and scroll down for more info on the specific ingredients to watch out for!
Nothing too alarming, I suppose, but also not something I want to take too lightly. After all, as someone who's had allergies my whole life, I wouldn't want to inadvertently CAUSE my child to have heightened allergies by something I was voluntarily putting on her head! That said, I certainly wouldn't judge someone who used this brand, and I may see how it works for my hubby's hair :) but I will avoid using it on my daughter and let her make the decision herself when she's old enough to know why I chose to avoid it.
Now, let's take the Suave product I'm most curious about/interested in and inspect it further :D
Ingredients list: (I have to say I LOVE a company that is forthcoming about the ingredients used! YAY Suave!!)
"Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera]*, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass]*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Dimethiconol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PEG-150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
*Certified Organic Ingredient"
Thoughts and findings ...
First impressions:
I love that they are using so many Certified Organic Ingredients - that's a great start!
There are also a lot of ingredients that are really long chemically-sounding impossible-to-pronounce names - that's a red flag :(
The nitty-gritty ...
(keep in mind that the toxicity rating does have many data gaps where not enough testing has been done. This is especially true for the lower rated ingredients.)
Water = fine :)
Cetearyl Alcohol = a naturally derived "fatty" alcohol that is not damaging or drying to the hair. It has a toxicity rating of 0-1. Not bad! Read up on alcohols in hair products HERE.
Cyclopentasiloxane = Hazard rating of 2-3 (Low to moderate) Cautionary items checked are Cancer, Organ system toxicity, and Persistence and bioaccumulation (can linger in the body tissue for years and decades after exposure). Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Ecotoxicology, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Data gaps, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine = Hazard rating of 0-1. (low) Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera]*
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass]*
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract*
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*
Dimethiconol - Hazard rating of 0 - Data gaps - Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Behentrimonium Chloride - Hazard rating of 0-1. (low) Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Ecotoxicology, Data gaps
Fragrance (Parfum) - Hazard rating of 8! (high) Cautionary items checked are Allergies/immunotoxicity. Emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Misc, Data gaps
Dipropylene Glycol - Hazard rating of 1. Moderate concerns are Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), and Data gaps.
Lactic Acid - Hazard rating 4-5. Concerns for this ingredient include Cancer, Restrictions and warnings, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate - Hazard rating of 0. Data gaps.
PEG-150 Distearate - Hazard rating 4-6. See here for more info.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone - Hazard rating of 6. Concerns: Cancer, Restrictions and warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive).
Methylisothiazolinone - Hazard rating 6. Concerns: Restrictions and warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Neurotoxicity.
*Certified Organic Ingredient
That's a lot of numbers. and I didn't even check the Organic ingredients! If this product contained one or two ingredients with a rating higher than 1 or 2, I would use it. But when almost every ingredient has a rating, and many are quite high - it's just not a risk I'm willing to take.
What do you think?! :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletemy other comment was full of typos so I'm redoing it lol!
ReplyDeleteI recently switched from store bought products to liquid castile soap (Dr Bronners). Its all natural and organic and very inexpensive. We use this on our hair and bodies and I feel much better about it.
Its scary how many harsh chemicals we slather on our bodies everyday!
Wow--how great to know! U are the research queen! Wanted to say hi and see what u were upto!! :) I have a new video posted, tell me what you think! :)
ReplyDeleteWe've recently switched to getting our soaps from http://goatmilkstuff.com/
ReplyDeleteThey don't do shampoo YET, but they are researching and experimenting and working on it. They are absolutely fantastic. I first ordered soap from them on a recommendation from a friend, because my youngest daughter has eczema. What I didn't expect was that EVERYone in my family would love it, including my husband! LOL
I bought him their shaving kit for Father's Day, and he says it's even making his razor blade last longer than usual. Gotta love that!
really suave is not so good for you? i've known about suave since i was a kid and i've always thought it's a good product. i won't risk using it now, especially on my future kids. thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteGreat info and a wonderful new resource to check out! ;) I have been concerned with the chemicals in our products, mainly for the affects on the lungs. Since my Little Miss in now considered to have a chronic illness after being injured and then sick earlier this year, we have been trying to get rid of anything that might affect her breathing in any way! So thanks for the info! I am going to look into the products that we are using to see whether they are right for us or not.
ReplyDeleteI have recently gotten on the natural hair care wagon and I have had the best success in using unrefined coconut oil from whole foods as a conditioner. It really leaves your hair soft and tangle free.
ReplyDeletehttp://the-mommychronicles.com