Shop Safer! Ingredients to Avoid When Shopping for "Natural" Beauty Products

Let’s talk about shopping for safe beauty products - and not about how overwhelming it can be! Harmful ingredients are all around us but ultimately, it is up to us to decide what we put into our bodies and onto our bodies! We absorb up to 60% of what we put on our skin and children absorb about 40-50% more than adults.

Below is a general “Avoid List”, each ingredient listed below is considered toxic and has been known to pose health risks and serious side effects such as: Cancer, skin allergies, infertility and reproductive problems, hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and learning disabilities. Scroll down for further explanation. Ingredients marked with an asterisk* may not be labeled on the products ingredient list.

Alphabetical Order Avoid List:

• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate: A popular ingredient found in antiperspirant. Avoid: aluminum zirconium, aluminum chloride hexahydrate, and aluminium chlorohydrate.

• Vitamin A: May speed up the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied topically on sun-exposed skin. Avoid: Retinol/Retinoids, Vitamin A, Retin-A, retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate - known as carcinogen, Retinyl linoleate, retinaldehyde, adapalene, Renova (tretinoin), Tazorac and avage (tazarotene), and isotretinoin.

• Behentrimonium Chloride: It is an ammonium salt used as a preservative known to damage the eyes and irritate the skin. Can be found in hair products.

• Benzalkonium Chloride and Benzethonium Chloride: Found in many bath, skin, and beauty products such as shaving creams, eye makeup, fragrances, and acne treatments.

• Benzyl Acetate: May be found in conditioners, and other cosmetic and beauty products that are scented.

• Benzoyl Peroxide: Found in many acne products, this ingredient may act as a mutagen and may be toxic by inhalation. It’s also an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Avoid: Benzoyl Peroxide

• Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA): Known as a skin irritant. Enhanced skin absorption. Avoid: 3-hydroxypropionic acid, trethocanic acid and tropic acid.

• Bronopol: May be found in acne products, anti-aging products, moisturizers, body washes, makeup removers, and facial cleaners.

• Butyl Acetate: May be found in nail polishes, nail polish removers, base coats, and other nail products.

• Chemicals Sunscreens: The following ingredients are known free radical generators and may cause cancer or damage DNA. Avoid: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, oxtinoxate, menthyl anthranilate and oxtocrylene.

• Coal Tar: This ingredient is a thick liquid or semi-solid form of coal and it has had known side effects such as sensitivity to sunlight, severe psoriasis flare ups, and skin irritations. It is used to treat dandruff. Avoid: Coal Tar Solution, Tar, Coal, Carbo-cort, Coal tar solutions, aerosol, crude coal tar, estar, impervotar, lavatar, aminophenol, diaminobenzene, phenylenediamine, and picis carbonis

• Cocamidopropyl betaine: Found in many bath products, this ingredients is a foam boosting surfactant associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. May cause skin and eye irritation. Avoid: Cocamidopropyl betaine, propanaminium

• DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), &TEA (Triethanolamine): These ingredients are foam boosters which can irritate the skin and eyes. It is easily absorbed through the skin and can accumulate in the body such as the organs and brain. They have also been known to cause dermatitis and hormone disruptions. Overuse increases and likeliness of liver and/or kidney cancer. They are found in many hair and body products. Avoid: diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, triethanolamine, oleamide DEA, lauramide DEA and cocamide DEA.

• DHA (Dihydroxyacetone): May be derived from animals. Widely used as a colorant, skin-conditioning agent, or in spray self-tanners; could be harmful if inhaled. Avoid: Dihydroxyacetone, dihydroxy 1-propanone

• Dimethicone: Has been known to cause irration of the skin scalp, and eyes, and trap impurities under skin. It is a silicon based polymer used as a lubricant and conditioning agent. Avoid: Dimethicone, dimethicone copolyol, dimethyl silicone, methyl polysiloxane, silicone L-45, CD 1664, dimethicone 350, viscasil 5M, and mirasil DM 20.

• DMDM Hydatoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): Perservatives that have been known to release formaldehyde. This can cause cancer, skin reactions, depression, joint pain, headaches, chest pains, chronic fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, and more.

• **Dioxin: Dioxins come from the breakdown of chlorophenols (like: triclosan, emulsifiers, PEGs, and ethoxylated cleaners like SLS, pesticides. This ingredient may cause cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages, and birth deformities. Also can cause sensitivities to the eyes and skin. Dioxins have been characterized by EPA as likely human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure. Avoid: Dioxin, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, Dioksyny (Polish), dioxcin herbicide contanimant, dionxine, NCI-CO3714, TCDBD, TCDD, and tetradioxin

• **1,4 dioxane: A by-product of the carcinogen ethylene oxide, which is used in a process called ethoxylation which makes harsh ingredients milder. Known carcinogen. Avoid: Anything with PEG, polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl PEG, and anything with ETH, such as SLS, Ceteareth, Oleth, Myreth.

• FD&C Color & Pigments: Synthetic colors that contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in the skin. This can cause skin sensitivity and irritation. When it’s absorbed into the body it can cause depletion of oxygen and sadly, death.

• Formaldehyde: Found in many hair straightening treatments, nail polishes, eyelash glues, and mascaras. It is a known carcinogen linked to asthma and neurotoxicity. Avoid: formaldehyde, formalin, formic aldehyde, quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM), hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, methanal, methyl aldehyde, oxomethane, oxymethylene, bronopol, imidazolidinyl Urea, and 2-bromo-2- nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).

• **Fragrance (Parfum): This ingredient on a label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scented chemicals and ingredients. One dangerous ingredient being diethyl phthalate. Fragrance has been associated with clogging the lymphatic system, major oran system toxicity, allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Avoid: Fragrance and Parfum

• Hydroquinone: An aromatic organic compound used as an active ingredient in OTC drug products. It can be used as a lightening agent in beauty products known to cause organ system toxicity, and reproductive issues. Avoid: hydroquinone, idrochinone and quinol/1-4 dihydroxy benzene/1-4 hydroxy benzene.

• Mercury & Mercury Compounds: Very hazardous ingredient found in beauty products. Known to cause toxicity to the organs and endocrine disruptions. Avoid: Mercury, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, 223 products, hydrogenated cottonseed glyceride, HG, mercury dissolved, colloidal mercury, hydrargyrum, KWIK, liquid silver, mercure (french), mercurio (italian products), mercury ACGIH: OSHA, Mercury Fume

• Methylisothiazolinone: A known preservative found in beauty products associated with allergic reactions. Concerns are irritation to the skin, eyes, or lungs. Avoid: Methylisothiazolinone and 2-methyl-3 (2h, isothiazolone.

• Oxybenzone: May cause biochemical or cellular level changes and endocrine disruption. Found in sunscreen products and associated with photo allergic reactions. Absorbs well into the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid: Oxybenzone and benzophenone-3.

• **Parabens: Used as preservatives and found in many beauty products, parabens have been linked to cancer, more particularly breast cancer. Parabens may cause endocrine disfunctions, hormonal imbalances and early puberty. Avoid: Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl, Isopropyl, and Isobutyl parabens.

• Petroleum Distillate: A mixture of volatile hydrocarbons used as an antifoaming agent in cosmetics and beauty products. May cause organ system toxicity, contamination. Avoid: Petroleum distillate, light liquid paraffin, petroleum stoddard solvent, naphtha, organic solvents, petroleum distillate fractions, and white spirits.

• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative found even in organic cosmetics with fragrance. It is a cheap synthietic and a suspected carcinogen. It is restricted in Japan and banned in Europe. It can cause skin, eye, or lung irrations. Some side effects may also include vomiting and contact dermatitis. Avoid: Phenoxyethanol, 2-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether, 2-phenoxy - ethanol, and 2-phenoxyethanol

• **Phthalates: Found in products with synthetic fragrances and nail polishes. Phthalates can damage the liver and kidney, can cause birth defects, decreased sperm counts, and cause early breast development in girls and boys. Avoid diethyl and dibutyl. Avoid: Fragrance, Parfume, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ehtylhexy) phthalate (DEHP)

• Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): Found in many beauty and personal care products, PEG contains dangerous levels of dioxin. This ingredient may cause cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages, and birth deformities. Avoid: Anything with PEG, polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl PEG, and anything with ETH, such as SLS, Ceteareth, Oleth, Myreth.

• Polysorbates: Known to irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs and disrupt the endocrine and organ function.

• Potassium Sorbate: Causes skin and organ system toxicity.

• Propylene Glycol (PG) & Butylene Glycol: These are petroleum plastics used as wetting agents and/or solvents and the EPA warns it can cause brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. It’s an ingredient so toxic that it requires gloves, goggles when handling and disposal by burying. Butylene Glycol is a strong skin, eye, and respiratory irritant.

• Quaternium-15: A formaldehyde-releasing preservative that can cause skin, eyes, or lungs irritation. This ingredient is made up of ammonium salt. The European Union has determined that this ingredient 'may not be safe' in cosmetics. Avoid: Quaternium-15

• Resorcinol: Commonly found in hair color and bleaching products, this ingredient may cause endocrine disruption, irritation to the skin, eyes, or lungs, Avoid: Resorcinol, benzenediol, hydroxyphenol, CI developer, M-dihydroxybenzene, hydroquinone, m-phenylenediol, oxidation base 31, and resorcin.

• Siloxanes: Used in moisturizers, makeup, and hair products, this ingredient is a known endocrine disruptor, possible reproductive toxicant as well. Also harmful to fish and other wildlife. Avoid: Cyclomenthicone, clyclopentasiloxane, cyclotetrasiloxane, and cyclohexasiloxane.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Found in many personal care products, like shampoos and shower gels, toothpaste, and other foaming products, these ingredients pose serious health threats. These ingredients may cause cancer, eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, and/or severe skin irritation. Avoid: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

• Talc: Found in many cosmetic and bath products, this hydrous magnesium silicate ingredient is known to cause skin irritations. It is found in powders and can be contaminated with asbestos fibers, posing risks for respiratory toxicity and cancer. It is known to have traces of aluminum silicate within it. Studies by the National Toxicology Panel demonstrated that cosmetic-grade talc free of asbestos is a form of magnesium silicate that also can be toxic and carcinogenic. Avoid: Talc, Cosmetic talc, french chalk, talc MG3H2 SIO3, 4, Agalite, Asbestine, B 13 Mineral, B9 TALC, and Beaver White 200

• Thioglycolic acid: Found in chemical hair removers Avoid: acetyl mercaptan, mercaptoacetate, mercaptoacetic acid and thiovanic acid.

• Tolulene: May be found in nail polishes Avoid: methylbenzene, toluol and antisal 1a.

• Triclosan & Triclocarban: This is a synthetic antibacterial ingredients, classified as a pesticide, which poses risks to your health and the environment. This ingredient has been linked to cancer, endocrine toxicity, skin irritation, organ disruption, and may encourage growth of drug-resistant bacteria Avoid: Triclosan, triclocarban, and Microban

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We hope you found this helpful! There may be some ingredients that are missing from the above list but after thorough research these seems to be the most talked about and most toxic ingredients.

Lucky for us natural babes, there are now several apps on the market that allow you to enter any ingredient or product to know what’s safe and what’s not safe! My favorite app to use while shopping is the Think Dirty App or the EWG, environmental working group website or healthy living app!

thinkdirtyshopclean.com

thinkdirty.com

“Think Dirty® is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop. Just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty® will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, its ingredients, and shop cleaner options!”

www.ewg.org/skindeep/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep

“It's our mission at Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. EWG's Skin Deep database gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from everyday exposures to chemicals. We launched Skin Deep in 2004 to create online profiles for cosmetics and personal care products and their potential hazards and health concerns. Our aim is to fill in where industry and government leave off. Companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish. The U.S. government doesn't review the safety of products before they're sold. Our staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. Now in its eighth year, EWG's Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate ratings for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market.”

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