Red flag
Evidence key Strong Moderate Weak How we grade
Banned in EU cosmetics Suspected reproductive toxicant Suspected endocrine disruptor
- What it can be used for
- Conditions hair, dissolves other ingredients and softens skin (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 69430-24-6, 556-67-2, 541-02-6, 540-97-6
Why it’s flagged
Prohibited in cosmetics in the EU.
- Annex II entry 1388. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited)
Annex II of the EU Cosmetics Regulation lists substances that must not be used in cosmetics sold in the EU.
Classified as suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
- EU classification Repr. 2. Source: EU CLP Regulation, Annex VI harmonized classification
EU Repr. 2: suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child.
Under EU evaluation as an endocrine disruptor, or identified as one by a national authority (ED Lists II and III).
- EU ED List II: under evaluation as an endocrine disruptor. Source: EU endocrine disruptor lists (edlists.org)
- EU ED List III: identified as an endocrine disruptor by a national authority. Source: EU endocrine disruptor lists (edlists.org)
EU ED List II: under evaluation as an endocrine disruptor in an EU process. List III: identified as one by a national authority in the EU.
What the research says
- A common personal-care-product ingredient can appear on ingredient labels under several different chemical names (the silicone D5 may be listed as 'cyclopentasiloxane' or 'cyclomethicone'), which may not read as the same substance to a consumer trying to identify or avoid it. Moderate evidence. Coggon 2018
About ingredients flagged like this one:
- The EU bans more than 1,400 substances from cosmetics, while US rules restrict only a handful. Moderate evidence. Alblooshi 2025
Each finding shows its evidence grade. See every graded fact or how we grade.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
Check your products
Check a whole labelProducts that list itEWG Skin DeepShop fragrance-free
“Products that list it” opens Open Beauty Facts, a free database anyone can edit.
Flagged the same way
Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.