Knowing what ingredients to avoid in products is necessary when taking on the task of creating a clean and non toxic beauty bag. The US Food and Drug administration does not regulate what is in skincare and makeup so as a consumer you would hope that only clean and safe ingredients are in your products, but that just isn’t the case. This is why we have a list of “Ingredients to Avoid” this list is below and it can also be found on our “About Us” page.
These are common ingredients in many “mainstream” beauty products, but you won’t find them here. We have included some basic information including their purpose in a product, why you want to avoid them and how they are commonly labeled.
There are literally hundreds of nasty ingredients out there so this list is by no means comprehensive, but we hope it is a good place for you to start. We hope you find this as a great resource as you are vetting products before giving them the honor of touching your skin.
1,4 DIOXANE
Purpose/Usage: Used to make petro-ingredients less irritating to skin
Avoid Because: Carcinogenic, suspected cardiovascular, blood, gastrointestinal, immune system, kidney, nervous system, respiratory and skin toxicant.
Labeled As: 1,4 Dioxane is a contaminant produced during the manufacturing process so the FDA does not require it to be listed on a product ingredient listing. Look for common ingredients with the prefix or designations of ‘PEG,’ ‘–eth–,’ ‘Polyethylene,’ ‘Polyethylene glycol’ ‘Polyoxyethylene,’ or ‘–oxynol–’ (FDA 2007)
DEA, TEA
Purpose/Usage: Foaming agent
Avoid because: Can form carcinogenic compounds when mixed with certain cosmetic ingredients
Labeled As: DEA, Diethanolimine, TEA, Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide Diethanolimine, Lauramide DEA, Lauramide Diethanolimine, DEA Laurel Sulphate, Diethanolimine Sulfate, Linoleaide DEA, Linoleaide Diethanolimine, Oleamide DEA or Oleamide Diethanolimine.
FORMALDEHYDE
Yes, this is no joke. Formaldehyde may be lurking in some of your products!
Purpose/Usage: An impurity released by some chemical preservatives
Avoid Because: Carcinogenic, skin and lung irritant, gastrointestinal, liver toxicant and neurotoxin. It’s used to embalm corpses; it should be avoided.
Labeled As: Formaldehyde, Formalin, Urea, Diazolidinyl urea, Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, Quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and Sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate
FRAGRANCE
Thousands of ingredients can be added to prodcuts under the umbrella of fragrance and many of them are exactly what you don’t want on your face. Sometimes you’ll see “natural fragrance” I would contact the manufacturer and find out exactly what it is.
Purpose/Usage: Artificially scent a cosmetic product
Avoid Because: Allergic reactions, headache, dizziness, and rash (children tend to be particularly sensitive)
Labeled As: Fragrance, Parfum
HEAVY METALS
Purpose/Usage: Sweat blocker, colorant, whitener, lightener
Avoid Because: Possible carcinogen, developmental, reproductive and organ system, immune system toxicant, bioaccumulation.
Labeled As: Aluminum, Aluminum flake, Aluminum, LB Pigment 5; Pigment metal 1; A 00; A 95; A 995; A 999; AA 1099; AA1199, Lead acetate, Lead flake, Chromium, Thimerosal, Hydrogenated cotton seed oil, Sodium hexametaphosphate.
METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MIT)
Purpose/Usage: Preservative
Avoid Because: Possible neurotoxin, possible health risks to unborn babies, allergic reactions
Labeled As:
3(2H)-Isothiazolone, 2-methyl-
2-Methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one
2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
2-Methyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone [4]
PARABENS
Purpose/Usage: Preservative
Avoid Because: Mimics estrogen in the body, could lead to impaired fertility or fetal development
Labeled As: Alkyl parahydroxybenzoate, butylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparabens
PETROLATUM
Purpose/Usage: Emollient or lubricant
Avoid Because: Contains impurities linked to cancer
Labeled As: petrolatum, petroleum jelly, mineral oil
PHTHALATES
Purpose/Usage: Carrier for synthetic fragrance
Avoid Because: Negative affect fertility and fetal development, probable carcinogen
Labeled As: Benzylbutyl phthalate (BzBP), Di-n-butyl phthalate or Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP), and sometimes Fragrance
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Purpose/Usage: Helps a product to retain moisture
Avoid Because: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to more easily enter the system
Labeled As: Propylene Glycol, Proptylene Glycol, 1,2-Propanediol. Related synthetics: PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol)
SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE
Purpose/Usage: Foaming agent
Avoid Because: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to more easily enter the system
Labeled As: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Anhydrous Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Irium
SYNTHETIC COLORANTS (FD&C COLORS)
Purpose/Usage: Used to artificially color a cosmetic product
Avoid Because: Skin irritation and allergic reactions.
Labeled As: FD&C or D&C followed by a name and number (FD&C RED NO. 40)
SYNTHETIC SUNSCREENS
We did a whole blog post about why these are so nasty here, Sunscreen Basics Post, yet something else that you want to avoid. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are the only sunscreen ingredients you want to see.
Purpose/Usage: Prevent Sunburn
Avoid Because: Mimics estrogen in the body potentially causing hormonal disruption, skin irritant
Labeled As: 4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor (4-MBC), Oxybenzone Benzophenone- 3, Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates (OMC), Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid (OD-PABA), Homosalate(HMS)
TRICLOSAN
Although the US Food and Drug Administration finally banned the use of Triclosan in soap it has allowed it to remain in toothpaste. Yes, it’s in many toothpastes.
Purpose/Usage: Strong antibacterial and preservative
Avoid Because: Can be contaminated with chloroform and dioxins, linked to hormonal disruption, organ toxicity, allergic reaction, skin, eye, and lung irritation, and bioaccumulation
Labeled As: Triclosan and Triclocarban, especially in products labeled “germ killing” or “antibacterial”.
Here are some resources we LOVE to check ingredients.
If you’re unsure about an ingredient, ask! A company’s response, or lack of response, will help you determine if something is safe for you or not.
What are some ingredients that you avoid? Comment below, we’d love to hear from you!
Thanks to Liz Thompson from Organicbeautysource.com for her original list.