Safety Check: Avalon Organics CoQ10 Facial Cleansing Milk

Switched to a new face wash a couple of days ago with my fingers crossed. Avalon Organics -- usually a good company. Right?

I happen to like this product. My previous facial cleansing gel (also an Avalon product) was making my face red if I left it on for more than a couple of minutes in the shower. Not this one. Either it's the creamy nature of the cleanser, or maybe it's because the weather is starting to get cooler out again so my face isn't as oily. After all, the CoQ10 product is billed as being for normal-to-dry skin ... which mine tends to be only when the weather cools and the humidity level drops. It also smells reasonably nice if you like lavender and it doesn't leave that greasy layer of yuck that many creamy cleansers do.

The SkinDeep Cosmetics Database rates it at 4/10 or moderate risk.

Whew.

For the full product report, you can take a look here.

Except that ... well, the list of ingredients detailed at the Avalon site doesn't match the list found on the SkinDeep site. Starting to wonder about the accuracy of the database when it comes to having the most current formulations now, so I'm going to go with the list of ingredients on the Avalon site. Then compare them against the ratings for the individual substances myself in the database and see where things net out.

Here is what you're getting into if you choose to use this product:

INGREDIENT LIST:
1. angustifolia (lavender) flower
0/10 (low risk)

2. chamomilla recutita (chamomile) flower
0/10 (low risk)

3. camellia sinensis (white tea) leaf extract
0/10 (low risk)

4. organic arnica montana flower extract (aqueous)
2/10 (low hazard risk)

5. vegetable glycerin
1/10 (low hazard risk)

6. stearic acid
2/10 (low hazard risk)

7. glyceryl stearate SE
0/10 (low risk)

8. glycine soja (soybean) oil
1/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: One of the hazard risks is for cancer.

9. stearyl alcohol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

10. cetyl alcohol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

11. phenoxyethanol
4/10 (moderate hazard risk)

12. tocopherol (vitamin E)
2/10 (low hazard risk)

13. emulsifying wax
0/10 (low hazard risk)

14. ubiquinone (CoQ10)
1/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity is one of the risks.

15. butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)
0/10 (low risk)

16. sorbitol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

17. caprylic/ capric triglyceride
0/10 (low risk)

18. organic helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
0/10 (low risk)

19. polysorbate 20
1/10 (low hazard risk)

20. prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil
0/10 (low risk)

21. citric acid
4/10 (moderate risk)

22. sodium PCA
2/10 (low hazard risk)

23. sodium carbomer
0/10 (low risk)

24. dimethicone
2/10 (low hazard risk)

25. tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
4/10 (moderate risk)

26. L-ascorbic acid
2/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: Risks include Cancer, Reproductive/Developmental Toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Data gaps

27. ethylhexylglcerin
1/10 (low hazard risk)

28. organic citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil
2/10 (low hazard risk) NOTE: Risks include violations, restrictions & warnings, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes or lungs) and data gaps.

29. other essential oils
4/10 (moderate risk)

Looks to me as though Avalon has changed its formulation to decrease its risky ingredients. My average risk rating, based on the total of all rankings out of ten then divided by the total number of ingredients, has this product with a final risk rating of 1.31/10.

What do you think? Is this product safe enough for you to use?