Many ingredients used in common personal care products are potentially harmful. They are usually used to make the products smell nice or give them a longer shelf life. The long-term effects of those ingredients vary: some may dry out your skin while others have been linked to health concerns. We want you to be aware of these potentially toxic ingredients to make an informed choice when buying products. Become a conscious consumer.
Aluminium
Found in
Deodorants
Used for
Prevents sweat from reaching the skin’s surface
Health debate
- Skin irritant
- Carcinogen
- Human neurotoxicity
- Respiratory and developmental toxin
Labeled as
- Aluminum chloride
- Aluminum chlorohydrate
- Aluminum hydroxybromide
Benzalkonium chloride
Found in
Anti-bacterial soap and moisturizers
Used for
Preservative, anti-microbial agent and surfactant
Health debate
- Immune, skin, and respiratory toxicant
- Carcinogen
- Skin and eye irritant
Labeled as
- Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride solution
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Benzylcoco alkyldimethyl chlorides
- Alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride
- Alkyldimethyl (phenylmethyl) quaternary ammonium chlorides
- Ammonyx
- Arquad dmmcb-75
- Barquat mb-50
- Bayclean
- Benirol
- Benzalkonium a
Benzophene
Found in
Lip balm, nail polish, foundations, baby sunscreens, fragrance, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, moisturizers, and foundation
Used for
Protect products from UV light
Health debate
- Cancer
- Endocrine disruption
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
- Organ system toxicity and irritation
- Redness, swelling, itching and fluid-filled blisters
- Possible anaphylaxis
Labeled as
- Benzophenone
- Oxybenzone
- Sulisobenzone
- Sulisobenzone sodium
- Ingredients containing the word "benzophenone"
Coal tar
Found in
Shampoos and scalp treatments, soaps, hair dyes, and lotions
Used for
Colorant - color a product
Health debate
- Skin sensitivity and irritation
- Skin tumors
- Carcinogen
Labeled as
- Topical coal tar solution
- Solubilized coal tar extract
- Neutar solubilized coal tar extract
- Ingredients containing the word "phenylenediamine"
- 2,4-diaminoanisole
- 2,4-toluenediamine
- 4-amino-2-nitrophenol
- Aminophenol
- Enylenediamine
Ethanolamine
Found in
Shampoos, hair conditioner, hair dye, soaps, mascara, foundation, lotions, eyeliners, eye shadows, blush, fragrances, sunscreens
Used for
pH Adjuster and surfactant
Health debate
- Carcinogen
- Organ system toxicity
Labeled as
- Triethanolamine
- Diethanolamine
- Ingredients containing the word "DEA"
- Ingredients containing the word "TEA"
- Ingredients containing the word "MEA"
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
Found in
Hair dye moisturizer, cleanser & body wash, foundation, mascara, eyeliner
Used for
Binding agent and penetration enhancer
Health debate
- Carcinogen
- Eye & skin irritant
Labeled as
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Disodium EDTA
- Calcium disodium EDTA
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing compounds
Found in
Nail polish, eyelash glue, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, shampoo, body wash, color cosmetics
Used for
Preservative
Health debate
- Carcinogen
- Eye, skin and mucous membranes irritant
- Joint and chest pain
Labeled as
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM hydantoin
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Polyoxymethylene urea
- Sodium hydroxyethylglycinate
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1
- 3-diol (bromopol)
- Glyoxal
Hydroquinone
Found in
Skin lighteners, facial and skin cleansers, moisturizers
Used for
Skin bleaching
Health debate
- Carcinogen
- Dermatitis and decreased skin elasticity
- Skin cancer
- Organ toxicity
Labeled as
- Hydroquinone
Mercury or lead
Found in
Lip products, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, mascara, nail color, foundations, sunscreens, eye shadows, blush, concealer, moisturizers, eye drops
Used for
Preservative and anti-microbial agent
Health debate
- Organ toxicity
- Renal failure
- Mental dementia
- Muscle tremors
Labeled as
- Thimerosal
Methyl cellosolve
Found in
Anti-aging creams, moisturizers and serums
Used for
Solvent
Health debate
- Skin irritant
- Neutro toxicity
- Developmental toxicity
Labeled as
- 2-Methoxyethanol
- Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether
- EGME
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone
Found in
Hair products, body wash, lotion, sunscreen, mascara
Used for
Preservatives and fragrance enhancers
Health debate
- Skin allergies
- Possible neurotoxicity
Labeled as
- MI, MIT, MCI
- Kathon CG
Petrolatum and mineral oil
Found in
Creams and lotions
Used for
Moisturizing
Health debate
- Diminish the skin's ability to breath and function
Labeled as
- Mineral oil
- Liquid petroleum
- Paraffin, liquid paraffin, paraffin oil, paraffin oils, paraffinum liquidum
- Deobase
- Heavy mineral oil, light mineral oil, white mineral oil, petroleum white mineral oil
- Liquid petrolatum
- Prolatum oil
Parabens
Found in
Hair products, facial and body cleansers
Used for
Preservative
Health debate
- Carcinogen
- Endocrine disruption
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
Labeled as
- Benzylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Osobutylparaben
- Ingredients ending in "paraben"
Phthalates
Found in
Fragrances
Used for
Solvent and plasticizers
Health debate
- Endocrine disruption
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
- Carcinogen
Labeled as
- Phthalate
- Diethylphthalate (DEP)
- Dibutylphthalate (DBP)
- Dimethylphthalate (DMP)
- DEHP
- Fragrance
Propylene glycol
Found in
Hair products, moisturizer, foundation
Used for
Penetration enhancer and moisturizer
Health debate
- Can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane which can cause cancer
Labeled as
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)
- PEG, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate
- PEG-40 stearate
- PEG-100 stearate
- 1,2 dihydroxypropane
- Methylethylene glycol
Sulphates
Found in
Shampoo, cleanser, soap, body wash
Used for
Surfactant - makes cleansers more effective
Health debate
- Contamination with 1,4 dioxane
- Potential skin & eye irritants and allergens
Labeled as
- Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS)
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
- Sodium caprylic sulfate
- Sodium capric sulfate
- Sodium oleic sulfate
- Sodium stearyl sulfate
- Sodium myreth sulfate
- Sodium dodecanesulfate
- Sodium monododecyl sulfate
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)
Synthetic fragrances
Found in
All type of: hair, face, body and cosmetic products
Used for
Scent
Health debate
- Immune system toxicant
- Possible neurotoxicity
- Skin allergies
- Respiratory destruction
Labeled as
- Parfum
Toluene
Found in
Hair dye and nail polish
Used for
Solvent
Health debate
- Organ toxicity
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
Labeled as
- Methylbenzene
- Methyl benzol
- Phenyl methane
- Tolul
Triclosan and Triclocarban
Found in
Antibacterial soaps, toothpaste and tooth whitening products, deodorants, creams, color cosmetics
Used for
Antimicrobial agent
Health debate
- Endocrine disruption
- Triclosan-resistant bacteria
- Environmental toxicity
Labeled as
- 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy diphenyl ether
- 5-chloro-2- (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol;
- Ch 3565
- Irgasan
- Irgasan dp300