Harmful Ingredients to avoid in beauty & skincare products.
There are so many ingredients in our skincare and beauty products that we never give second look to. While many ingredients are beneficial to our skin, many of them are potentially harmful and some well known ones that we can all agree to are as follows:
1. Sulfates
Role:It is basically a surfactant that creates foam. Gives you that "squeeky clean" feeling.
Other labels:
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) or Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
Where It's Found:
Anything that lathers, bubbles or foams.
Facial wash, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, dish soap, hand soap, detergents.
Why It's Harmful:
Can cause dermatitis
2. Parabens
Role:These are used as preservatives that prevents mold & bacteria from forming.
Other labels:
Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, from which the name is derived. Common parabens include methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216), butylparaben and heptylparaben (E209). Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts.
Where It's Found:
Almost any beauty product & skincare product unless they state it free from parabens.
Why It's Harmful:
They have the ability to mimic estrogen and disrupt estrogen receptors. This can lead to a decrease in fertility and research has said it may play a role in breast cancer development. It can also cause irritation or contact dermatitis.
3. Talc
Role:It absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes
Other labels:
Talc, talcum power
Where It's Found:
Loose powder , Eyeshaows, Blush, Baby powder, Latex gloves with powder, diaper rash cream, powdered cosmetics.
Why It's Harmful:
Tiny particles specifically in facial powder form can be inhaled and stick to lungs.
It is linked to ovarian cancer.
4. Pthalates & Synthetic Fragrance
Role:To give a product an "appealing" scent and enhances the user experience and hides the smell of chemicals in the product. 95% of synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals. According to the Environmental Working Group in over 70% of fragrances, there is an ingredient called "phthalates." (pronounced thal-ates). Phthalates help the fragrance stick to the skin and last longer.
Other labels:
Fragrance, parfum, perfume
Where It's Found:
EVERYWHERE and even places like some "natural" brands. Hair products, body lotions/washes, deodorants, baby products, makeup, household cleaning products, hand soap, aloe vera gels, dish soap, laundry detergent, scented tampons + pads, fruity smelling liquid medications and of course perfume and body sprays.
Why It's Harmful:
Synthetic fragrance is a known skin irritant and according to American Academy of Dermatology the #1 cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. As for phthalates you generally won't see word this on an ingredient list. It is an ingredient within an ingredient. You guessed it, hidden in the word "fragrance!" It's linked to dermatitis, birth defects, breast cancer, diabetes.
5. Triclosan
Role:Triclosan (sometimes abbreviated as TCS) is an antibacterial and antifungal agent
Other labels:
Triclosan, Microban, Irgasan, Biofresh, Lexol-300, Ster-Zac and Cloxifenolum
Where It's Found:
Antibacterial products like hand soap, kitchen sprays, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, cosmetics and deodorants
Why It's Harmful:Studies have shown triclosan enables bacteria to become antibiotic resistant and endocrine disruptor.
6. Synthetic Dye
Role:A derivative from petroleum to produce appealing color in a cosmetic or skincare product.
Other labels:
Blue 1, Green 3, FD&C Yellow 6 to name a few but there are many
Where It's Found:
Hair products, skin care products, body lotions/washes, aloe vera gels, baby products, there are a ton dyes in makeup, household cleaning products, laundry detergent, dish soap, hand soap, and medications - pills + liquids.
Why It's Harmful:
Coal tar is a known carcinogen and aluminum and other heavy metals are toxic to the brain.
7. Formaldehyde Releasers
Role:Formaldehyde releasers are often used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics.They help products penetrate deeper into the skin, sometimes uses as a moisturizing agent and are synthetically/chemically made.
Other labels:
DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol), glyoxal and oxaldehyde and queaternium-15
Where It's Found:
Aloe vera gels, Brazilian Blowout, eyelash glue, skin care products, mascara, body lotion/washes, baby products, lip products, hair products, deodorants, men's shaving products, nail polish and sunless tanning products.
Why It's Harmful:
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. It can be irritating to the skin and scalp and cause allergic reactions.
8. PEG Compounds
Role:PEGs are commonly used as cosmetic cream bases.
PEGs (polyethylene glycols) are petroleum-based compounds that are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers
Other labels:
Polyethylene glycol. The word PEG followed by a number which means the lower the number the more easily the product penetrates into the skin.
Where It's Found:
Commonly used in moisturizers, hair dye, sunscreen, and shampoo.
Why It's Harmful:
The ingredient itself may be only slightly irritating to the skin, but since it helps to penetrate other potentially harmful ingredients easier, that is what could be the issue.
9. Propylene Glycol
Role:Derived from petroleum it's used as a skin moisturizer, skin conditioning agent and a carrier in fragrance oils. It also helps products penetrate deeper into the skin. It's the same ingredient used in antifreeze and brake fluid.
Other labels:
Propylene glycol, 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, and trimethyl glycol
Where It's Found:
Cosmetics, skin care products, lotions, baby wipes, toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant
Why It's Harmful:
Highly irritating to the skin. Linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive issues, endocrine disruptor, liver and kidney damage.
10. Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
Role:They are cosmetic emulsifiers and foaming agents with the combined properties of alcohols and amines. They are found in many common products such as make-up, hair dye, sunscreen and body wash. They’re even used to adjust pH level.
Other labels:
Monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine
Where It's Found:
Hair dyes, mascara, dry cleaning solvents, perfume/cologne, sunscreens, foundations
Why It's Harmful:
Linked to allergies, skin toxicity, hormone disruption, and inhibited fetal brain development.
Aren't all of these ingredients concerning, so many side effects waiting to happen.
There are other more harmful active ingredients like: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate, these are especially found in chemical sunscreens, I'll touch on them in a separate post.
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