Ingredients in Neutrogena, CeraVe and Cetaphil are not safe for humans?

Social media users are now accusing brands like Neutrogena, CeraVe, and Cetaphil of using harmful ingredients such as fragrance, PEGs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and SLS in their products. They are claiming that these brands hide these ingredients behind “dermatologist recommended” labels. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. All the ingredients in CeraVe, Cetaphil and Neutrogena passed the safety test and the product is declared safe.

What’s the claim? 

Sharing the video, social media users are claiming that ingredients like fragrance, PEGs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and SLS in Neutrogena, CeraVe and Cetaphil are harmful in nature and not safe for human use. These ingredients are endocrine disruptors. 

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Fact Check- 

PEGs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and SLS are common ingredients found in many health, cosmetics, personal care products and not only in these brands. So, we will look into the facts of the safety of these ingredients in general. 

Parabens: Parabens are preservatives used in cosmetics and many personal care products to stop harmful bacteria from growing. It may be a concern for people that Parabens in cosmetics may have the potential to act like estrogen which can be associated with the development of breast cancer. However, parabens have significantly less estrogenic activity than the body’s naturally occurring estrogen. Parabens in cosmetics are present only in very small amounts and are not harmful to humans at this level. 

Studies and reviews have shown that parabens have low toxicity and do not cause cancer when used within the safety limits established by regulatory authorities. However, concerns remain about their potential hormone-like activity, particularly in young children. While current regulations consider parabens safe for use, ongoing research aims to address uncertainties and ensure their safe use.

Fragrance: The FDA explains that fragrances are used in many cosmetic and household products like perfumes, lotions, shampoos, and even in some items labeled “unscented” to mask other smells. These products don’t need FDA approval before going to market but manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring they are safe and properly labeled. Ingredients used in fragrances can be listed simply as “fragrance” to protect trade secrets, so consumers may not know exactly what’s included. Since some fragrance ingredients can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities, the FDA advises people with such concerns to choose fragrance-free products or contact manufacturers for more information. 

Phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic chemical substance widely used as a

preservative in the preparation of skin, cosmetic, and personal care products. It is mainly

responsible for the prevention of bacteriological and fungal contamination.

Studies, including tests on humans, found that it does not cause serious harm, not an allergen,

and not toxic to the body in the amounts generally used. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review

Expert Panel reviewed it in 1990 and again in 2007 and confirmed it is safe to use in cosmetics

at levels usually under 1%. The FDA also reviewed it and approved it for limited use in food

packaging. The same ingredient has also been approved as a preservative by the European

Union to be used in cosmetics.

PEGs: In 2001, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Panel found six PEG propylene glycol  safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. The panel re-reviewed their decision for the increased use of PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate. They also added a new but similar ingredient, PEG-6 Propylene Glycol Caprylate/Caprate, to the recent review. The Panel no longer warns against using PEGs on damaged skin and found no new safety concerns. Most of these ingredients are used as surfactants and skin conditioners. While PEG-55 is now used in many rinse-off products like soaps (up to 2%), others like PEG-8 and PEG-25 are used in far fewer products. Overall, the ingredients are still considered safe in current cosmetic uses. 

Studies show that PEGs cause little or no skin or eye irritation, and they don’t easily pass through healthy skin. Rare cases of allergic reactions were noticed when PEGs were used on damaged skin. These are declared as non-carcinogenic, and don’t cause birth defects or genetic harm. PEGs and their related compounds are considered safe for use in cosmetics and various personal care products as long as they are not used on broken skin. However, as suggested, companies should continue to reduce harmful impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane during their production. Overall, PEGs are safe when used properly in cosmetic and personal care products.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. PEGs, Parabens, Fragrance and Phenoxyethanol in CeraVe, Neutrogena and Cetaphil products are approved ingredients and are not harmful when used as intended.