Rainforest Facial Moisturiser

NZ Nature has withdrawn from sale bottles of its Rainforest Facial Moisturiser that contain the ingredient iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC).

IPBC is banned from use in certain cosmetics, including body lotions and face creams.

Consumer contacted NZ Nature after receiving two complaints from the company's customers. Both customers bought a 100ml bottle of Rainforest Facial Moisturiser, which listed IPBC as an ingredient. The complaints followed our article last month on natural cosmetics.

Wendy Riley, NZ Nature Communications Manager, said the company took immediate steps to withdraw the product after we advised it of the problem. She said NZ Nature stopped using IPBC some time ago but old stock of the 100ml bottles of face cream remained on shelves. She also stated that any customer who has bought the cream can contact the company for a refund.

IPBC was also previously used in the company's Rainforest Body Lotion sold in 250ml bottles. Wendy Riley told us current stocks of this lotion didn’t contain IPBC and any customer who purchased older stock (containing IPBC) after July 2009 could contact the company for a refund.

Restrictions on the use of IPBC were strengthened in 2008. Current rules allow its use in small concentrations in some cosmetics such as shampoos and deodorants. However, it's not permitted in oral hygiene or lip-care products, in "leave-on" products for children under three years of age, or in any body lotions or creams intended to be applied to a "large part of the body". All products failing to comply with these rules were required to be removed from shelves by July 2009.

More from consumer.org.nz

• Natural cosmetics - our investigation into products labelled "natural" or "organic"

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