Table 5: Indicative categories and chemical ingredients of cosmetic products

(based on frame formulations)

Category of chemicals Sample ingredients
Anionic surfactants sodium laureth sulfate, sodium/ammonium/TEA lauryl sulfates
Amphoteric surfactants ethoxylated sorbitan esters, cocamide MIPA, ceteth-20, ethoxylated fatty
alcohols
Non-ionic surfactants fatty acid polyglycolethers, fatty alkanolamides, sodium
dodecylbenzenesulfonate
Cationic surfactants and
polymers
polyquaternium-7, polyquaternium-24, distearyldimonium chloride
Foam boosting agents cocamide MIPA, linoleamide DEA
Hair conditioning agents silicone derivatives, cysteine derivatives, cellulose derivatives, fatty acid
esters
Bath salts sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium
chloride
Oils vegetable and mineral e.g. liquid paraffin, waxes and fatty alcohols,
including lanolin and lanolin derivatives, zea mays
Humectants glycerin, propylene glycol, PEG
Emulsifying agents glyceryl stearate, PEG stearate, sorbitan sequioleate & stearate, ethers of
oleyl alcohol
Silicones dimethicone, cyclomethicone
Viscosity controlling agents carbomer, cellulose-ethers
Emollients isopropyl myristate, fatty alcohols
Abrasives polyethylene
Additional ingredients vitamins, antioxidants, plant extracts
Fragrances Essential oils
UV filters Zinc oxide, TiO2
Preservatives, antimicrobials Benzyl Benzoate Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Solvents ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, toluene, diacetone, ethanol, isopropanol, PPG-
2 butyl ether
Resins, polymers nitrocellulose, acrylates copolymer, phthalic anhydride/butyl benzoic
acid/propylene glycol copolymer
Plasticisers dibutyl phthalate, triethyl citrate

Source: SCCS,  Opinion on the potential health risks posed by chemical consumer products resembling food and/or having child-appealing properties, (2011),
Annex III, p.40