You won’t find any of these nasties in any of our products!
What is it?
A metallic chemical element that is used to prevent sweat and bacteria causing odor by blocking the sweat glands.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Endocrine disruption
+ Organ toxicity
+ Skin irritant
Found in:
Antiperspirant
What to look for on the label:
Aluminum, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum salts
What is it?
An ether alcohol that functions as a fragrance additive and solvent.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Developmental & Reproductive Harm
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Irritant (skin, eyes, lungs)
Found in:
Many hair, skincare, makeup, body products with the ingredient “fragrance” mentioned.
What to look for on the label:
Butoxyethanol, Butyl Glycol, Ethanol, 2-Butoxy-Ethanol
What is it?
Synthetic antioxidants and preservatives used in personal care products and food products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Endocrine disruption
+ Organ toxicity
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
Found in:
Hair products, skincare products, makeup, sunscreen, antiperspirant/deodorant, fragrance, moisturizer
What to look for on the label:
BHA, BHT
What is it?
Suncreen that contains chemicals to filter out UVA and UVB rays. Some of these ingredients can be harmful to your health, therefore a mineral sunscreen is a safer alternative.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ DNA Damage / Cell Damage & Mutation
+ Endocrine Disruption
Found in:
Face and body sunscreens, cosmetics, skincare, lipcare
What to look for on the label:
Benzophenone-3, Oxybenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Benzophenone, Diphenylmethanone, Octocrylene
What is it?
A thick liquid carcinogen derived from burning coal that is used in personal care products as a colorant and anti-dandruff solution.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Organ Toxicity
Found in:
Shampoo, scalp treatments, soap, hair dye, makeup
What to look for on the label:
Coal Tar Solution, Diaminobenzene, Aminophenol, Benzin B70, Petroleum Benzin, P-phenylenediamine
What is it?
It’s generated through a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, a known breast carcinogen, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh. It’s a contaminant (unmentioned in ingredient labels) in products that produce suds.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Irritant (skin, eyes, lungs)
Found in:
Any product that produces suds, bubbles or foam such as shampoo, soap, cleanser, bubble bath, hair relaxer
What to look for on the label:
Sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth and oleth
What is it?
A nitrogen-containing buffing agent (maintains pH levels) and surfactant (cleansing agent that produces suds, bubbles and foam) used in many personal care and household products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Endocrine disruption
+ Developmental & reproductive harm
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Allergen
Found in:
Soap and cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, hair dye, moisturizer, shaving cream, paraffin and waxes, eye makeup, blush, foundation, fragrances, sunscreen, detergents, household products
What to look for on the label:
Ethanolamine (ETA), Triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), cocamide DEA, cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, lauramide DEA, linoleamide MEA, myristamide DEA, oleamide DEA, stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate
What is it?
A binding agent used to prevent the deterioration of personal care and makeup products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Organ Toxicity
Found in:
Soap, body wash, cleanser, moisturizer, hair color, foundation, eye makeup
What to look for on the label:
Calcium Disodium EDTA, Diammonium EDTA, Dipotassium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, TEA-EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tripotassium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA
What is it?
A colorless, strong smelling gas that is used as a preservative in many personal care and household products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Allergen
+ Irritant (Skin, Eyes, Lungs)
+ Organ Toxicity
Found in:
Shampoo, hair gel, hair smoothing products, body wash, body soap, nail polish, nail and eyelash glues, color cosmetics
What to look for on the label:
Formaldehyde, quaternium-15 (formaldehyde releaser), DMDM hydantoin (formaldehyde releaser), imidazolidinyl urea (formaldehyde releaser), diazolidinyl urea (formaldehyde releaser), polyoxymethylene urea (formaldehyde releaser), sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (formaldehyde releaser), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) (formaldehyde releaser), and glyoxal. Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin, Methenamine (formaldehyde releaser)
What is it?
A chemical used to bleach the skin, stopping the production of melanin pigments as well as reducing hyperpigmentation.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Organ toxicity
+ Irritation of respiratory tract
Found in:
Skin lighteners/Skin bleaching products, face and body cleansers, face moisturizer, hair conditioner, nail coating products
What to look for on the label:
Hydroquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate (synthetic Vitamin E)
What is it?
A heavy metal used in cosmetics as a color additive. Lead builds up in the body over time and can cause serious health concerns.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Developmental & Reproductive Harm
+ Endocrine Disruption
Found in:
Most makeup products, whitening toothpaste, nail polish
What to look for on the label:
Lead acetate, chromium, thimerosal, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, sodium hexametaphosphate.
Note: products that contain contaminant metals will not list them on ingredient labels
What is it?
A heavy metal used in makeup products as a preservative and antimicrobial agent.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
Found in:
Eye makeup
What to look for on the label:
Thimerosal
What is it?
A colorless liquid used as a solvent, fragrance additive and for viscosity control in anti-aging skincare products and perfumes.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Neurotoxicity
+ DNA Damage / Cell Damage & Mutation
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Skin irritant
Found in:
Anti-aging skincare products, perfumes
What to look for on the label:
Methyl Cellosolve, 2-Methoxyethanol, Methoxyethanol
What is it?
Chemicals that act as preservatives, preventing bacterial growth in makeup and skincare products. They are also used for fragrance enhancers.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Allergen
+ Skin irritant
Found in:
Shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, hairspray, body wash, lotion, sunscreen, makeup, makeup remover, shaving cream, baby shampoo and lotion, liquid soaps, detergent
What to look for on the label:
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT): 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, Neolone 950 preservative, MI, OriStar MIT and Microcare MT. Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT): 5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and MCI
What is it?
Engineered materials used in skincare, makeup and personal care products as UV-filters and preservatives. They alter the properties of these products, including color, texture or transparency. They also are used as ingredient stabilizers, preventing the separation of ingredients. They are not required to be listed under the ingredients.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Organ Toxicity
+ DNA Damage / Cell Damage & Mutation
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Skin irritant
Found in:
Shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, anti-aging cream, nail polish, foundation
What to look for on the label:
Fullerenes, micronized zinc oxide, nano zinc oxide, micronized titanium dioxide, micronized quartz silica
What is it?
Preservatives used to prevent the growth of microbes found in a wide variety of personal care products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Endocrine Disruption
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Allergen
Found in:
All types of hair products, moisturizer, cleanser and scrubs
What to look for on the label:
Ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, other ingredients ending in –paraben
What is it?
A glycol that is used as a preservative in many skincare, cosmetic and personal care products. It is also used as a stabilizer in perfumes and soaps.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Irritant (Skin, Eyes, Lungs)
+ Organ Toxicity
Found in:
Nearly any kind of skincare, cosmetic or personal care products.
What to look for on the label:
Phenoxyethanol, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Euxyl K® 400 (mixture of Phenoxyethanol and 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane), PhE
What is it?
A group of chemicals used as plasticizers (such as in nail polishes to reduce cracking by making them less brittle or in hair sprays to help avoid stiffness by allowing them to form a flexible film on the hair). They are also used as a solvent in fragrances.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Endocrine Disruption
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Carcinogen
Found in:
Soap, shampoo, hair spray, nail polish, synthetic fragrance
What to look for on the label:
Phthalate, DEP, DBP, DEHP and fragrance
What is it?
Petroleum-based compounds that are used as thickeners, solvents, softeners and moisture-carriers in personal care, skincare and makeup products. They also act as penetration enhancers, allowing harmful chemicals to easily be absorbed into the skin.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Endocrine Disruption
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Organ toxicity
+ Possible contamination with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both known carcinogens
Found in:
Hair products, foundation, moisturizer
What to look for on the label:
PPG, PEG, polysorbate, or ingredients including the letters “eth” (e.g., polyethylene glycol)
What is it?
A chemical derived from benzene that is used in many hair products and to treat acne, eczema and other dermatological skin conditions.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Endocrine Disruption
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Irritant (skin, eyes, lungs)
Found in:
Hair products, hair dye, products that treat acne
What to look for on the label:
Resorcinol, 2-Methylresorcinol, 1,3-benzenediol, Resorcin, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene(m-hydroxybenze, m-dihydroxyphenol)
What is it?
An ingredient derived from ethoxylated lauryl alcohol, which is used as a surfactant (a cleansing agent that produces suds, bubbles and foam). It is also used as a fragrance ingredient.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Allergen
+ Irritant (skin and eyes)
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Contamination with 1,4-dioxane
Found in:
Shampoo, cleanser, soap, body wash, bubble bath, exfoliator, hair relaxer
What to look for on the label:
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth and oleth
What is it?
A combination of chemicals that gives a product a specific scent or flavor. The ingredients in fragrances and flavors are considered “trade secrets” and are permitted to be left off the ingredient list. Because of this, there could be thousands of undisclosed ingredients just in the word “fragrance” or “flavor” alone.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Organ Toxicity
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Allergen
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Endocrine Disruption
+ Skin irritant
Found in:
All types of hair, face, body, makeup, perfume, household and food products
What to look for on the label:
Fragrance, fragrance blend, parfum, perfume, flavor, scent, cologne
What is it?
A volatile petrochemical solvent, derived from benzene. It is used in nail products to suspend the color and form a smooth finish across the nail. It’s also added to gasoline to make hair dyes.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Carcinogen
+ Developmental & Reproductive harm
+ Neurotoxicity
+ Organ toxicity
+ Severe skin irritant
Found in:
Hair dye, nail polish and treatments
What to look for on the label:
Toluene, Toluol, Benzene, Methylbenzene, Phenylmethane
What is it?
Antimicrobial agents and preservatives used in many personal care and household products.
Potential Health Concern(s):
+ Endocrine disruption
+ Environmental Toxicity
+ Resistant to antibiotic medications
Found in:
Antibacterial soap and cleanser, hand sanitizer, toothpaste and tooth whitening products, antiperspirant/deodorant, shaving products, color cosmetics, detergents
What to look for on the label:
Microban, Triclosan (TSC), triclocarban (TCC)