Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant Cool Essentials
Summary
Dove Advanced Care Cool Essentials scores 12/100 -- a textbook mainstream antiperspirant cocktail from Unilever. The active is aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY 15.2%, the most-debated ingredient in the category because aluminum salts plug sweat ducts and are systemically absorbed. Stacked on top: cyclopentasiloxane (D5 silicone, EU-restricted as very persistent/very bioaccumulative), PPG-14 butyl ether (petrochemical glycol ether), PEG-8 (1,4-dioxane contamination risk), BHT (endocrine-disruptor flag), polyethylene microplastic, mineral oil, and a synthetic fragrance blend with 10 disclosed allergens (Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool). Sunflower oil and glycerin are token additions. The Cool Essentials cucumber-and-green-tea scent comes entirely from synthetic fragrance, not real cucumber or tea extract.
At a glance
Key ingredients 15
Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLYVery Bad
Aluminum-based antiperspirant active that temporarily plugs sweat ducts. Aluminum salts are absorbed systemically and accumulate — the most-debated ingredient in personal care.
See more about Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY →CyclopentasiloxaneVery Bad
Cyclic silicone classified by the EU's ECHA as vPvB (very persistent, very bioaccumulative). REACH-restricted in wash-off cosmetics since 2020 and listed under Canada's CEPA toxic substances. Aquatic-toxic.
See more about Cyclopentasiloxane →Stearyl AlcoholNeutral
Fatty alcohol used as emollient/thickener. Considered safe.
See more about Stearyl Alcohol →C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateNeutral
Synthetic emollient ester. Considered safe; mild ethoxylation concern.
See more about C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate →PPG-14 Butyl EtherBad
Propylene glycol ether derived from petrochemical feedstocks. Skin penetration enhancer.
See more about PPG-14 Butyl Ether →Hydrogenated Castor OilNeutral
Hydrogenated castor oil — plant-derived wax. Generally well-tolerated.
See more about Hydrogenated Castor Oil →PEG-8Bad
Ethoxylated polymer carrying 1,4-dioxane contamination risk as a manufacturing byproduct.
See more about PEG-8 →Fragrance (Parfum)Very Bad
Undisclosed proprietary blend that can legally contain 1000+ chemicals including phthalate carriers. Top trigger for cosmetic contact dermatitis.
See more about Fragrance (Parfum) →DimethiconeBad
Silicone polymer. Less persistent than cyclic siloxanes (D4/D5/D6) but still environmentally non-biodegradable.
See more about Dimethicone →PolyethyleneVery Bad
Plastic polymer. Microplastic concern when used as a film-former in leave-on products.
See more about Polyethylene →Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed OilGood
Hydrogenated plant fat used as wax. Inert topically; considered safe.
See more about Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil →BHTVery Bad
Synthetic phenolic antioxidant flagged as a potential endocrine disruptor and skin sensitizer. Restricted in toys/childcare in the EU.
See more about BHT →LimoneneBad
EU-required-to-list fragrance allergen. Top contact dermatitis trigger.
See more about Limonene →LinaloolBad
EU-required-to-list fragrance allergen. Top contact dermatitis trigger.
See more about Linalool →CitronellolBad
EU-required-to-list fragrance allergen. Top contact dermatitis trigger.
See more about Citronellol →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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