I've been using this shower gel for over a year. As far as price it was a really great deal. And because it's a Whole Foods brand product I was confident that none of the ingredients would be harmful. There's no fragrance, which is perfect for me and it makes a nice, moderate lather. Once I'm out of the shower and dried off my skin does feel a little tight but not too much. I decided to put it to the research test because I thought it was going to be a low risk product.
It felt so good to post a positive report on my last review, the Flax Seed Gel. Let's keep it up, right?
I repeat: I purchased this item at Whole Foods. It's a "365", their own formula. So it CAN'T have anything bad in it. Right?
er, ummm...well.... I plugged the ingredients into Skin Deep's database and the result was a disappointing 3. The lowest end of moderate risk. There's so much worse out there it's true.
Still, from everything I've ever read I believed Whole Foods does extensive research before they develop a product. They really seem like a responsible company.
So I went into this believing the gel would at least be in the low risk range (0-2), if not a no risk "0"...
If you've read any of my previous posts you know I'm searching for products that are low risk (0-2), or ideally a zero (0) according to the Skin Deep database. My hopes aren't too outrageous. My sole purpose is I to put an end to the allergic- like symptoms that have been annoying me and to avoid creating any future problems for myself. Making sure I'm not contributing to polluting our beautiful planet is high on my list as well.
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| Paradise of Horror photo |
Identifying as many possible irritants and then avoiding them is a big part of my goal. If the annoying symptoms are not from a single irritant but from many I have to wonder about the part the specific ingredients in this product have played. Guess I'll see once it's no longer in the daily routine. So disappointing though.
So disappointing in fact that I just didn't want to believe it. I kept scouting around and found a few other sites: the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the Cancer Prevention Coalition , and AllergEAZE to get a more information. Long story short- they concurred with Skin Deep's concerns. The long story is available by clicking the links/ names of each of the other sites in this paragraph and/or skimming down to the end of the Skin Deep report at the bottom of this post.
As always- if you have concerns similar to mine please do your own research. Here is a good place to start. I've given you a few others in the body of this post and I'm sure there must be many other sources. I'd love to hear what you find or about your experiences.
The full review from Skin Deep is below.
WHOLE FOODS 365 EVERYDAY VALUE SHOWER GEL FRAGRANCE FREE
brand: Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value by Whole Foods Market IP, L.P.
PRELIMINARY REPORT: The information on this page was entered by a Skin Deep user and has not been verified by EWG.
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- 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.
SCORE:
| Ingredients in this product are linked to: | |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Use restrictions |
| Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards |
Ingredients from packaging:
water;cocamidopropryl hydroxysultaine; sodium myristoyl sarcosinate; disodium cocoamphodipropionate; sodium cocoamphoacetate; sodium chloride; gluconolactone; sodium benzoate; phenethyl alcohol; glyceryl caprylate; citric acid; glycerin; allantoin; aloe barbadensis; arctium lappa
water;cocamidopropryl hydroxysultaine; sodium myristoyl sarcosinate; disodium cocoamphodipropionate; sodium cocoamphoacetate; sodium chloride; gluconolactone; sodium benzoate; phenethyl alcohol; glyceryl caprylate; citric acid; glycerin; allantoin; aloe barbadensis; arctium lappa
Specific ingredients' issues:
Allergies/immunotoxicity*
*Listed below are allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances.
| type of concern | ingredient(s) | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIPROPIONATE |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*
*Listed below are organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances.
| type of concern | ingredient(s) | |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | WATER, GLUCONOLACTONE, COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA), ALLANTOIN | |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | SODIUM CHLORIDE |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | SODIUM BENZOATE | |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | PHENETHYL ALCOHOL |
| One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at very low doses | GLYCERIN, | |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | CITRIC ACID |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*
*Listed below are irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances.
| type of concern | ingredient(s) | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses | SODIUM BENZOATE | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses | SODIUM CHLORIDE, GLYCERIN, CITRIC ACID | |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | PHENETHYL ALCOHOL |
Occupational hazards*
*Listed below are occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances.
| type of concern | ingredient(s) | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | GLYCERIN |
Use restrictions*
*Listed below are use restrictions concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances.
| type of concern | ingredient(s) | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | CITRIC ACID | |
| Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panel | GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA), DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIPROPIONATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM MYRISTOYL SARCOSINATE |
The additional research for this product is listed below:
The ingredient I was most concerned with, disodium cocoamphodipropionate, received a 5- the high end of moderate risk. For ease of reading I'm calling this DC from here on. Skin Deep reports DC is also known as the following substances:
B-ALANINE, N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] -, NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS., DISODIUM SALTS; N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] B -ALANINE, NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS., DISODIUM SALTS; COCOAMPHOCARBOXYPROPIONATE; COCOAMPHODI PROPIONATE; DISODIUM N-COCOYL-N-CARBOXYETHOXYETHYL-N-CARBOXYETHYLETHYLENEDIAMINE; DISODIUM SALTS B-ALANINE, N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] -, NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS.; DISODIUM SALTS N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] B -ALANINE, NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS.; NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS. DISODIUM SALTS B-ALANINE, N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] -; NORCOCO ACYL DERIVS. DISODIUM SALTS N- (2-AMINOETHYL) -N- [2- (2- (2-CARBOXYETHOXY) ETHYL] B -ALANINE
** see below for references
Skin Deep lists disodium cocoamphodipropionate as one of many ingredient containing the impurity nitrosimine.
Skin Deep lists disodium cocoamphodipropionate as one of many ingredient containing the impurity nitrosimine.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: " Nitrosamines are a potential impurity in 53 ingredients and more than 10,000 of the products listed in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database as of July 2008. Due to the common nature of this impurity, nearly every kind of personal care product, including mascara, concealer, conditioner, baby shampoo, pain relief salve and sunless tanning lotion, can contain nitrosamines as an impurity. Nitrosamines have been banned from use in cosmetics by Canada and the European Union (ii). Nitrosamines are created in cosmetics when nitrates and various amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) are in favorable conditions to combine. Specifically, nitrosamines form when certain proteins, such as diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA), are used in the same products as preservatives that can break down into nitrates. As these various compounds break down over time, they can recombine into nitrosamines."
"Numerous studies and databases link nitrosamines to cancer. They are listed as possible human carcinogens by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the U.S. National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens and the California EPA Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. Several other databases cite strong to moderate evidence regarding the cancer-causing properties of nitrosamines. In addition, there is some evidence of endocrine disruption at very low doses. Studies have also linked nitrosamines to developmental or reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and systemic toxicity. "
The Cancer Prevention Coalition recommends avoiding what it calls Nitrosamine Precursers. such as Cocamidopropyl betaine. And Allergeaze.com, a patch test company operating in USA, Germany and Japan states "Cocamidopropyl betaine is used in personal care products like shampoos, hand soaps, and toothpastes, and in cosmetics as an emulsifying agent and thickener".
The company suggests avoiding contact with any ingredients that may contain cocamidopropyl betaine. Among many other ingredients, it lists disodium cocoamphodipropionate.
** Skin Deep referenced the following sources:
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review AssessmentsCIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
National Library of Medicine HazMapNLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
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