The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash

Why it's rated this way

2 ingredients on this label are flagged. A cosmetic's rating is set by its most serious finding — here, Sodium Hydroxide.

1. Sodium HydroxideMinor concernAlkali (lye). It is used up in the product: as a pH adjuster it neutralises an acid in the formula, and in soap it turns the oils into soap. The EU caps the alkalinity it may leave (pH 11 for pH-adjuster use); the higher limits, with warnings, are only for hair straighteners, cuticle removers and depilatories.

   What it is

   Its recorded role: buffering and denaturant. About Sodium Hydroxide

   Why it's flagged

   Alkali (lye). It is used up in the product: as a pH adjuster it neutralises an acid in the formula, and in soap it turns the oils into soap. The EU caps the alkalinity it may leave (pH 11 for pH-adjuster use); the higher limits, with warnings, are only for hair straighteners, cuticle removers and depilatories.

   Regulatory basis

   EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III — allowed only within set limits and conditions; Greenveil's curated cosmetic-ingredient concern list.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. The label names this substance exactly.

2. Polyquaternium-7Minor concernFilm-forming or conditioning polymer made from acrylamide. The polymer itself is not the concern: the EU limits the leftover acrylamide monomer (a carcinogen) to 0.1 mg/kg in leave-on body products and 0.5 mg/kg in others, a purity specification the raw material has to meet.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet. About Polyquaternium-7

   Why it's flagged

   Film-forming or conditioning polymer made from acrylamide. The polymer itself is not the concern: the EU limits the leftover acrylamide monomer (a carcinogen) to 0.1 mg/kg in leave-on body products and 0.5 mg/kg in others, a purity specification the raw material has to meet.

   Regulatory basis

   EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III — allowed only within set limits and conditions; Greenveil's curated cosmetic-ingredient concern list.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. The label names this substance exactly.

Assessed against the label as captured: 26 of 28 ingredients recognised.