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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Robust

Cyclotetrasiloxane

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Use restrictions (high), Endocrine disruption (moderate), Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), and Ecotoxicology (low)

SYNONYMS

● CYCLOTETRASILOXANE
● OCTAMETHYLCYCLOTETRASILOXANE
● CYCLOTETRASILOXANE, OCTAMETHYL-
● DECAMETHYLCYCLOTETRASILOXANE
● HEXANETHYLCYCLOTRISILOXANE

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

Cyclotetrasiloxane is a cyclic dimethyl polysiloxane.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW_MODERATE
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
conditioner40 products
styling gel/lotion9 products
sunless tanning1 products
hair treatment/serum68 products
foundation50 products
hair spray29 products
shampoo6 products
moisturizer7 products
detangler3 products
hair styling aid14 products
antiperspirant/deodorant4 products
body firming lotion2 products
cuticle treatment1 products
Hair Styling Gel1 products
lipstick133 products
serums & essences5 products
mask2 products
facial moisturizer/treatment16 products
lip gloss11 products
mascara1 products
daily use with SPF5 products
BB cream6 products
makeup remover1 products
around-eye cream2 products
makeup primer3 products
eye shadow2 products
recreational sunscreen1 products
eye liner3 products
bath oil/salts/soak1 products
body oil1 products
exfoliant/scrub1 products

Endocrine disruption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more studies show weak endocrine disruptionCyclosiloxanes (2008-12-04)
One or more animal studies show endocrine disruption at moderate dosesSiloxanes - Consumption, Toxicity and Alternatives(2005-01-01)
Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidenceEuropean Union

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show effects at moderate dosesCyclosiloxanes (2008-12-04)
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate dosesAn inhalation reproductive toxicity study of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in female rats using multiple and single day exposure regimens(2007-02-01)
Limited evidence of developmental toxicityEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Limited evidence of reproductive toxicityEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of liver toxicityCyclosiloxanes (2008-12-04)
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a high human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Enhanced skin absorption

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Penetration enhancerEffects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) on the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and levels of various reproductive hormones in female Sprague-Dawley rats(2007-06-01)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humansEnvironment Canada
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
Suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmeticsEU Cosmetics Directive
  • Cyclosiloxanes (2008-12-04)
  • Siloxanes - Consumption, Toxicity and Alternatives(2005-01-01)
  • European Union
  • An inhalation reproductive toxicity study of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) in female rats using multiple and single day exposure regimens(2007-02-01)
  • EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
  • Environment Canada
  • Effects of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) on the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and levels of various reproductive hormones in female Sprague-Dawley rats(2007-06-01)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • EU Cosmetics Directive

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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