Trends
Ingredients to avoid at all costs
Curious? Interested? Wanna find out much more? Read the Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel
Here’s the most comprehensive list of harmful chemicals currently used in skincare, hair care, makeup, and fragrances. Use this list anytime you buy a beauty product.
Don’t keep it secret: photocopy it and give it to your family and friends. Minimize your exposure to these chemicals. Ideally, eliminate them from your beauty routine.
They are the worst enemies of your skin and hair and health.
1. Acrylic Acid: respiratory toxin for humans; causes asthma, severe skin burns, and allergic reaction in the skin or lungs; causes renal and kidney damage in animals; causes blood tumours and skin tumours in animals
2. Aluminium (Pure Aluminum Powder): strong human neurotoxicant; causes irritation of eyes, skin, and lungs; endocrine disruptor; linked to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer; causes birth disorders in animals
3. Aluminium Chloride: nose and lung irritant; causes liver and bladder abnormalities in animals; causes brain disorders in animals; human endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease; aluminium compounds are neurotoxic to humans
4. Aluminium Hydrochloride: endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease; aluminium compounds are neurotoxic to humans
5. Aluminium Oxide: strong nose and lung irritant; causes skin cancer in animals; endocrine disruptor linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease; aluminium compounds are neurotoxic to humans
6. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate: causes skin irritation; water contaminant; may be contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane
7. Ammonium Persulfate: strong eye, respiratory system, and skin irritant; can trigger asthma; restricted in cosmetics
8. Amyl Acetate: neurotoxin; eye and lung irritant; lung allergen
9. Benzalkonium Chloride: immune system, lung, and skin toxicant; can trigger asthma; restricted in Canada and Japan
10. Benzyl Alcohol: strong neurotoxicant; can cause allergic reaction in lungs; causes itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; causes liver damage, coma, and death in animals
11. Boric Acid: strong reproductive toxin; potent endocrine disruptor; unsafe for use on infants and injured or damaged skin; causes death and birth defects in animals; banned in Canada and Japan
12. Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol): one of the strongest lung and skin toxicants; endocrine disruptor; forms carcinogenic nitrosamine; causes allergic contact dermatitis; environmental contaminant; poisonous to wildlife
13. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): human carcinogen; causes brain and liver tumors in animals at low doses; endocrine disruptor; causes allergic contact dermatitis and skin depigmentation; banned in European Union; persistent environmental toxin
14. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT): endocrine disruptor, skin and lung toxicant at low doses; causes death, liver and stomach cancers, thrombosis, fibrosis, and liver and brain damage in animals; strong skin and eye irritant
15. Butylene Glycol: skin, lung, and eye irritant; environmental toxin burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; causes liver damage, coma, and death in animals
16. Butylparaben: skin and eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast and ovarian cancer; environmental contaminant
17. Calcium Fluoride: neurotoxic to humans; leads to bone weakness; causes birth abnormalities and depression in animals
18. Ceteareth (with any numeral following it): unsafe for use on broken skin; eye and lung irritant; may be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane
19. Cetrimonium Chloride: skin and eye sensitizer that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering; causes cell mutations and lung cancer in animal studies
20. Cetyl Alcohol: skin and eye irritant in humans
21. Chloroacetamide: strong skin, eye, and lung irritant; toxic if inhaled; causes paralysis, goiter, and birth defects in animals; banned in Canada
22. Coal Tar: known human carcinogen; causes lung and urinary tract cancer; potent skin irritant; causes multiple cancers in animals; banned in most countries including Canada and European Union; still used in anti-dandruff shampoos in the US
23. Cocamide DEA (Ethanolamide of Coconut Acid): strong human skin toxicant and suspected carcinogen; causes irritation of skin, eyes, and lungs in humans; causes liver and bladder cancer in animals
24. D&C Red 30 Lake: strong nervous system toxicant; as an aluminum compound, disrupts endocrine system and linked to breast and ovarian cancer; persistent wildlife contaminant
25. D&C Violet 2: coal tar dye; skin and eye irritant; long-time use of coal tar hair dye is linked to bladder cancer
26. Dibutyl Phthalate: neurotoxicant; linked to impaired fertility and urinary abnormalities; linked to breast and ovarian cancers; contaminates wildlife
27. Diethanolamine (DEA): linked to brain abnormalities in animals; may be contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane
28. Dimeticone (Dimethicone): petroleum derivative; environmental toxicant
29. Direct Black 38: diethanolamine-containing dye that is a confirmed human carcinogen; strong evidence of causing bladder cancer; may harm the unborn child; causes liver and kidney cancer in animals; banned in European Union
30. DMDM Hydantoin: contains carcinogenic formaldehyde; skin, eye, and lung irritant; environmental toxicant
31. EDTA (Disodium EDTA): this penetration enhancer is a neurotoxin linked to brain damage in animals; caused liver changes and endocrine damage in animals; caused fetal death and birth abnormalities in animals; made from formaldehyde; approved for use in cosmetics and baby food
32. Ethylparaben: skin and eye irritant; endocrine endocrine disruptor linked to breast and ovarian cancer; environmental contaminant
33. Eugenol: endocrine disruptor; skin, eye, and lung irritant; well-recognized consumer allergen; causes death, coma, insomnia, convulsions, hematuria, pulmonary edema, and liver cancer in animals
34. Ext. D&C Violet 2: this coal tar dye is a strong skin irritant; long-time use of coal tar dyes is linked to increased risk of bladder cancer; restricted in cosmetics
35. FD&C Blue 1: derived from coal tar; linked to allergies and hyperactivity disorders
36. FD&C Green 3: causes sarcomas and bone marrow hyperplasia in animals; not studied for safety in humans; prohibited in European Union
37. FD&C Yellow 5 (E104, Tartrazine): causes severe allergic and intolerance reactions, especially among asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance; linked to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage, hives, and hyperactivity in humans
38. FD&C Yellow 5 Aluminum Lake: aluminum compounds are neuro-toxic to humans
39. FD&C Yellow 6: human skin and eye irritant; causes coma, convulsions, testicular damage, and changes in leucocytes in animals; cannot be used in eye cosmetics
40. Fig (Ficus Carica) Extract: immune system toxin; cannot be used as fragrance ingredient due to potential carcinogenicity; banned in European Union; allowed in the US as fragrance ingredient in shampoos and body washes
41. Formaldehyde: known human carcinogen linked to leukemia, pancreatic, skin, liver, and lung cancer; strong skin, eye, and lung irritant; irritates human liver (causes cirrhosis), stomach, kidneys, and bladder; can cause skin burns; triggers asthma; hazardous air pollutant; environmental toxin; banned in Canada and Japan; determined as safe for use in cosmetics in the US
42. Formaldehyde Resin: contains formaldehyde and carries same risks; can trigger allergic reaction in the skin or lungs
43. Formaldehyde Solution (Formalin): neurotoxin in humans and animals; restricted in Canada and European Union; known human carcinogen linked to leukemia, nasal and nasopharyngeal, pancreatic, skin, liver, bladder, and lung cancer; strong skin, eye, and lung irritant; irritates human liver (causes cirrhosis), stomach, kidneys, and bladder; can cause skin burns; triggers asthma; hazardous air pollutant; environmental toxin; banned in Canada and Japan; determined as safe for use in cosmetics in the US
44. Glyceryl Stearate: weak skin, eye, and lung irritant
45. Hydroquinone: eye, lung, and nervous system toxin; can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; suspected liver and stomach carcinogen; causes liver cancer, and DNA and ovary mutations in animals; restricted in Canada
46. Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: contains Diethanolamine; can affect thyroid function; gastrointestinal and liver toxicant; cannot be used in aerosols; causes allergic contact dermatitis; restricted in Japan
47. Imidazolidinyl Urea (Uric Acid): can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin
48. Isobutylparaben: skin and eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast and ovarian cancer; environmental contaminant
49. Isoparaffin: petroleum derivative; environmental environmental toxin; mildly irritating; produces kidney damage in animals; not carcinogenic in humans
50. Isopropyl Alcohol (SD-40): human neurotoxin; skin, eye, and lung irritant; vapors cause drowsiness and dizziness; causes skin dehydration; may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin; petroleum derivative
51. Lactic acid: strong skin and eye irritant; can cause skin burns; causes changes in liver, brain, and blood in animals; causes mutations and birth defects in animals; restricted in Canada
52. Lanolin: strong skin irritant and toxicant; can cause allergic reaction in the lungs **
53. Laureth-7 (Polyethylene Glycol Ether of Lauryl Alcohol): may be contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane
54. Lead Acetate: possible human carcinogen and neurotoxin; skin and eye irritant; environmental toxin; banned in the European Union
55. Lecithin: can irritate lungs in aerosol form; a potent asthma trigger; forms carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds if mixed with nitrosating agents
56. Manganese Sulfate: strong human neurotoxin; harmful during prolonged exposure or inhalation; causes convulsions, DNA mutations, and protein loss in animals; toxic to wildlife
57. Methamine: strong skin, eye, nose, and lung irritant; can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; may be contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane; cannot be used in aerosol cosmetics
58. Methyl Methacrylate: strong neurotoxin; strong eye and lung irritant; causes asthma and skin burns; causes cancer and stomach bleeding in animals; hazardous air pollutant; banned in Canada and recently in the US
59. Methylparaben: skin and eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast and ovarian cancer; environmental contaminant
60. Mineral Oil (Liquid Petrolatum): causes blood and skin cancer formations in animals; eye and skin irritant; derived from petroleum; non-biodegradable environmental toxin
61. Monoethanolamine (MEA): skin and eye irritant at low doses; can be irritating to the respiratory tract
62. Nonoxynol (ethoxylated alkyl phenol): endocrine disruptor; skin and lung irritant; causes liver damage in animals; may be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane
63. Octoxynol (10, 11, 13, 40): strong skin and eye toxin that can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; may contain carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane; causes cancer of reproductive organs in animals
64. Oxybenzone (Benzophenone–4): strong photoallergen; endocrine dis-ruptor; produces free radicals that can increase skin aging; environmental toxicant
65. Padimate O (Octyl Dimethyl PABA/PABA Ester): has estrogenic activity; releases free radicals that damage DNA when exposed to sunlight; causes allergic reactions and photoallegenic dermatitis; restricted in Japan
66. Para Amino Benzonic Acid (PABA): causes allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity; produces free radicals that cause mutations, lead to cell death, and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease; causes changes in blood components and muscle weakness in animals; banned in Canada
67. Paraffin (Paraffinum Liquidum, Paraffin Petrolatum): petrochemical bleached with carcinogen acrolyn; releases carcinogens benzene and toluene upon heating; causes kidney or renal system tumor in animals; environmental toxin
68. PEG-100 Stearate: polyethylene glycols are often contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane; suspected endocrine disruptor; linked to cancer in animals; skin and eye irritant
69. Petrolatum (Soft Paraffin, White Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly): lung irritant upon inhalation; derived from petroleum; non-biodegradable environmental toxin
70. Phenol: strong respiratory irritant; toxic by skin contact; causes skin burns; causes kidney damage and cyanosis in humans; causes skin cancer, birth defects, and brain and nervous system damage in animals at very low doses; environmental contaminant; banned in Canada, restricted in Japan, permitted in the US
71. Phenoxyethanol: endocrine disruptor and carcinogen in animals; linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis
72. Picric Acid: human immune system toxicant; toxic by inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion; causes allergic reaction in the skin or lungs; causes coma, convulsions, and body temperature increase in animals; banned in Canada and European Union
73. Placental Extract: endocrine disruptor containing estradiol and progesteron; banned in Canada
74. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): often contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane; suspected endocrine disruptor; linked to cancer in animals; skin and eye irritant
75. Polyethylene Terephthalate: causes cancer in animals; not studied for safety in humans
76. Polysorbate 80: may be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane; suspected endocrine disruptor; linked to cancer in animals; skin and eye irritant
77. Potassium Persulfate: strong irritant to eyes, lungs, respiratory system, and skin; restricted for use in cosmetics
78. P-phenylenediamine: linked to bladder and prostate cancer; human neurotoxin; skin and lung irritant; causes liver cancer and birth defects in animals; very strong environmental toxin
79. Propyl Acetate: skin, eye, nose, and lung irritant
80. Propylene Glycol (PG): can cause eye irritation and conjunctivitis, as well as upper respiratory tract irritation
81. Propylparaben: skin and eye irritant; endocrine disruptor linked to breast and ovarian cancer; environmental contaminant
82. Quaternium–7, 15, 31, 60: formaldehyde releasing; can cause skin and eye irritation; linked to several cancers (see Formaldehyde)
83. Resorcinol (m-Hydroquinone, Euresol, 1,3-Benzenediol): strong skin irritant; linked to adenomas in animals; suspected to trigger skin cancer in humans; environmental toxin
84. Saccharin: suspected human carcinogen; causes liver, kidney, and bladder damage in animals, animals, as well as reproductive damage and birth abnormalities
85. Silica: linked to esophageal cancer, renal disease, pulmonary fibrosis, mesothelioma, sarcoma, rheumatoid arthritis, and bronchitis; strong nasal and lung irritant; wildlife toxicant; accumulates in human body.
86. Sodium Laureth Sulfate: skin irritant; water contaminant; may be contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane
87. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: skin and eye irritant; in toothpaste may cause canker sores
88. Sodium Metabisulfite: immune system toxicant; eye and skin irritant; emits toxic gas when in contact with acids; dangerous for asthmatics; causes stillbirth, muscle weakness, and brain degeneration in animals
89. Sodium Methylparaben: endocrine disruptor; causes mild brain damage in animals; skin irritant causing itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering; causes depigmentation of skin; banned for use in European Union
90. Sodium Monofluorophosphate: nervous system toxin; harmful if swallowed during teeth bleaching; causes convulsions, proteinuria, osteoporosis, and changes in DNA in animals; restricted in Canada
91. Talc: even when it contains no asbestos, was proven fibrogenic (causes tissue injury and fibrosis); skin and lung irritation. Found in many makeup brands.
92. Teflon: causes toxic pneumonitis and skin cancer in animals; not studied for safety in humans
93. Tetrasodium EDTA: contains formaldehyde; cytotoxic and genotoxic in animals; strong skin and lung irritant in humans; most widespread poison to waterways
94. Thimerosal (Thiomersal, Merthiolate): strong toxin to skin, nervous, and immune system; mercury is linked to autism; causes cancer in animals; environmental toxin
95. Thioglycolic Acid: strong human skin irritant; causes itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; lung allergen; restricted in cosmetics; banned in Canada
96. Toluene (Methylbenzene): skin and lung toxicant; accumulates in fat tissue; soil contaminant
97. Triclosan: endocrine disruptor, affects thyroid hormone–associated gene expression, caused fetal death in animals; strong skin irritant; environmental toxicant
98. Triethanolamine (TEA): causes lymphoid, kidney; and renal tumors in animals; may be contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane; skin and eye irritant even when used in low doses
99. Triphenyl Phosphate: human neurotoxin; skin, eye, and lung irritant; causes tremors, depression, and diarrhea in animals
100. Xanthene (AKA106, CI 45100): found unsafe for use in cosmetics in the US; causes cancer and various organ mutations in animals
And the list can go on and on. This is not a complete list of all harmful and toxic chemicals found in beauty products. Last time I counted, a popular hair highlighting kit contained forty chemicals that are linked to various health disorders even at low doses. However, these are some of the most common staples of junk beauty products. Try to avoid them at all costs.