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We avoid the over 1,400 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, but don’t stop there. Beyond harmful chemicals – phthalates, parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances – we also ban commonly used natural ingredients that are known to be allergens or skin sensitizers. We have created our own “never-ever list” of ingredients that our team of Ivy league dermatologists deem as hazardous.
– Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
– Center for Disease Control (CDC)
– Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
– Environmental Working Group (EWG)
– Skin Deep Database
– International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
– National Institutes of Health (NIH)
– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
– National Toxicology Program
– California's Proposition 65 List of Chemicals
About:
1,4-dioxane is generated through a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, a known breast carcinogen, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh.
Use:
Contaminant (unlisted in ingredient labels)
Potential concern:
Carcinogen, birth defects.
Found in:
Products that sud. On labels, avoid Sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth and oleth.
About:
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to alkalize the pH of skin care products.
Use:
pH adjuster
Potential concern:
May be contaminated with Nitrosamines, skin and organ irritation
Found in:
Hair products
About:
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used as preservatives in a variety of personal care products.
Use:
Preservative
Potential concern:
Endocrine disruption, organ-system toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, carcinogen, irritation
Found in:
Personal care, skincare, food products
About:
Behentrimonium Chloride is a quarternary ammonium salt derived from colza oil.
Use:
Cleaning and conditioning agent, antistatic agent, preservative, disinfectant
Potential concern:
Irritant and allergen to skin and eyes, inflammatory agent
Found in:
Shampoos, hair conditioners
About:
Benzalkonium Chloride is an organic salt classified as a quaternary ammonium compound.
Use:
Preservative, antimicrobial agent, surfactant
Potential concern:
Severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant (particularly for those with asthma and eczema)
Found in:
Antiseptic creams, anti-itch ointments, antibacterial wipes, household disinfectants and cleaning supplies
About:
Butoxyethanol is a glycol ether that functions as a fragrance additive with a sweet odor.
Use:
Viscosity agent, fragrance additive, solvent
Potential concern:
Possible carcinogen, skin irritant, organ toxicity
Found in:
Many products with "fragrance" or "parfum" listed in the ingredients
About:
Chemical sunscreens refers to ingredients including Oxybenzone (or Benzophenone-3), Octinoxate (or octyl methoxycinnamate), Octocrylene, Octisalate or Homosalate.
Use:
Filters UVA/UVB rays
Potential concern:
Possible carcinogen, skin irritant, organ toxicity
Found in:
Suncare products
About:
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a chemical derivative of coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine which was voted “Allergen of the Year” in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.
Use:
Foam booster, surfactant, emulsifying agent
Potential concern:
Severe skin irritant and allergen, links to contact dermatitis
Found in:
Shampoos, detergents, personal care products
About:
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic amphoteric surfactant from the hydroxysultaine group and a close chemical cousin to Cocamidopropyl Betaine.
Use:
Foam booster, surfactant, emulsifying agent
Potential concern:
Severe skin irritant and allergen, links to contact dermatitis
Found in:
Shampoos, detergents, personal care products
About:
Coal Tar is a byproduct of coal processing used in cosmetics and skincare products.
Use:
Colorant, anti-dandruff agent
Potential concern:
Carcinogen, organ toxicity
Found in:
Shampoos and scalp treatments, soaps, hair dyes and lotions
About:
Ethanolamines include compounds listed as Diethanolamine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanlamine (MEA), Ethanolamine (ETA).
Use:
Surfactant, pH adjuster
Potential concern:
Allergies, skin toxicity, endocrine disruption, may form carcinogenic nitrosamines, inhibits fetal brain development
Found in:
Shampoos and scalp treatments, soaps, hair dyes and lotions
About:
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) is a stabilizer used to prevent ingredients in a given product from binding with other trace elements and keeps other ingredients from causing unwanted changes to a product’s texture, odor, and consistency.
Use:
Binding agent, penetration enhancer
Potential concern:
Enhance dermal penetration of other ingredients, potentially mutagenic
Found in:
Personal care products, skincare and cosmetics
About:
Ethoxylated ingredients on their own are of low concern, however, the process of ethoxylation, may leave behind trace amounts of carcinogens. Ethoxylation is the process of reacting ethylene oxide with other chemicals to make them less harsh, which creates small amounts of 1,4-dioxane.
Use:
Surfactant
Potential concern:
Release potential carcinogens
Found in:
Shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath, hair relaxers
About:
Preservative which presents microbes from growing in water-based products.
Use:
Preservative
Potential concern:
Carcinogenic
Found in:
Nail polish, nail glue, hair gel, baby shampoo, body soap, body wash, color cosmetics
About:
Trideceth-10 is a polyethylene glycol ether derived from the reaction between ethylene oxide and tridecyl alcohol.
Use:
Reduces hyperpigmentation
Potential concern:
Carcinogen
Found in:
Skincare products
About:
Oil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of a lavender plant
Use:
Fragrance
Potential concern:
Skin irritation, allergen
Found in:
Personal care and skincare products
About:
Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone are widely used preservatives that inhibit bacterial growth
Use:
Preservative, fragrance enhancers
Potential concern:
Skin irritation, sensitizer, allergen, possible neurotoxicity
Found in:
Hair products
About:
Heavy metal which is used as a preservative or anti-microbial agent in skincare or cosmetics products
Use:
Preservative, anti-microbial agent
Potential concern:
Neurotoxicity
Found in:
Cosmetics and skincare products
About:
Mineral Oil and Petrolatum are by-products of petroleum distillation
Use:
Moisturizer
Potential concern:
Contamination with PAHs which are linked to cancer, skin sensitizer, contact dermatitis, allergen
Found in:
Skincare products, diaper rash creams
About:
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in cosmetics and personal care products, as well as stabilizer in soaps
Use:
Preservative, stabilizer
Potential concern:
Strong skin irritation and sensitizer, eczema, allergen
Found in:
Baby shampoos, lotions, skincare products
About:
Parabens are esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid
Use:
Preservative, anti-microbial ingredients
Potential concern:
Carcinogenic, endocrine disruption, development and reproductive toxicity, allergen
Found in:
Hair products
About:
Phthalates are preservatives used in cosmetics and personal care products, as well as stabilizers in soaps.
Use:
Preservative, stabilizer
Potential concern:
May cause birth defects, endocrine disruption
Found in:
Synthetic fragrances, fragranced lotions, body washes and hair care products
About:
Polysorbates are synthetic compounds derived from oleic acid.
Use:
Emulsifier, defoamer, surfactants
Potential concern:
Potential carcinogen, developmental toxicity, skin allergies, reproductive toxicity
Found in:
Personal care products, women's hygiene products, cleaning products
About:
Resorcinol is commonly used in hair products, hair dyes and acne medication
Use:
Colorant, fragrance ingredient, acne therapy
Potential concern:
Skin irritation, possible endocrine disruption, organ and immune toxicity
Found in:
Hair products, acne creams
About:
Sesame seed oil is a vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds.
Use:
Moisturizing agent
Potential concern:
Skin irritation, allergen
Found in:
Skincare and personal care products
About:
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a synthetic skin conditioner.
Use:
Skin conditioning, absorption enhancer, antistatic
Potential concern:
Contamination of nitrosamines (potential carcinogen)
Found in:
Shampoos, cleansers, soaps
About:
Sulfates are detergents commonly found in shampoos and soaps.
Use:
Surfactant
Potential concern:
Contamination with 1-4 dioxane, causes skin and eye irritation, allergen
Found in:
Many skincare and personal care products (soap, shampoo, body wash, bubble bath)
About:
Synthetically engineered scents containing dozens (or even hundreds) of chemical ingredients used to create fragrances. Companies are not required to disclose the numerous ingredients behind the “fragrance” and therefore remains a loophole in the industry.
Use:
Fragrance
Potential concern:
Severe skin and respiratory irritation, possible endocrine disruption, organ and immune toxicity, potential carcinogen, neurotoxicity, birth defects
Found in:
Skincare and personal care products
About:
A mineral powder made from magnesium, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Potential concern:
Can be contaminated by abestos, a known carcinogen
Found in:
Personal care powders
About:
Oil obtained by distillation of the tea tree
Potential concern:
Skin irritant, allergen
Found in:
Personal care and skincare products
About:
Toulene is a petrochemical derived from benzene, a known carcinogen
Use:
Solvent
Potential concern:
Organ system toxicity, severe skin irritation, potential carcinogen
Found in:
Hair care, dyes and nail products
About:
Triclosan and Triclocarban are antibacterial agents commonly found in detergents and soaps.
Use:
Antimicrobial agent
Potential concern:
Endocrine disruption, toxic to marine environments, contributes to antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Found in:
Antibacterial hand and body soaps/cleaners, hand santizers, antiperspirants
About:
Trideceth-10 is a polyethylene glycol ether derived from the reaction between ethylene oxide and tridecyl alcohol.
Use:
Surfactant, emulsifying agent
Potential concern:
Organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology
Found in:
Personal care products