Source information from the following websites and books:
- Cancer Prevention Coalition; preventcancer.com
- Environmental Working Group, rate products on their toxicity; EWG.org
- Home Enlightenment: Create a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home by Annie Berthold-Bond, 2008.
- The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food by David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein, 1995.
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* Key Code
c = Contaminants
ed = Endocrine (hormone) disruptors
fr = Formaldehyde releasers
np = Nitrosame precursors
oc = Overt carcinogens
Ingredients to Avoid |
* |
Notes |
AHA |
|
May cause irritation, photosensitivity, redness, permanent damage |
Alkylphenol Ethoxylate | ed |
|
Ammonia |
|
|
Amorphous silicates | c | Toxic; found in nail polish, hair dyes, and perfumes |
Arsenic | c |
|
BHA - Butylate Hydroxynisole | cd | May cause irritation, photosensitivity, redness, permanent damage |
BHT |
|
13% absorbed through the skin |
Blue 1 | oc/c | Artificial color |
B-MDM Butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane | ed |
|
Bp-3 Benzophenone-3 | ed |
|
Bronopol | fr/np | Found in Chanel, Body Shop, and baby products |
Butyl |
|
Found in hair products |
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate | ed |
|
Ceteareths |
|
Found in hair products |
Cinnamates | ed | Damages cell protein/DNA; found in sunscreens |
Coal tar dyes | oc/c |
|
Crystalline Silica | oc/c |
|
D&C Red 33 |
|
Artificial color |
DDT |
|
49% absorbed through the skin |
DEA | oc/np | Combined with nitrates during manufacturing process = nitrosamines |
Diaminobenzene |
|
Toxic, found in nail polish, hair dyes, and perfume |
Diazolidinyl urea | fr |
|
Dibutyl Phthalate | ed | Found in nail polish |
Dieldrin |
|
|
Diethyl Phthalate | ed |
|
Dioxane (1,4) | c | In surfactants; ethoxylated alcohols, polysorbates, laureths (SLS, SLES) |
DMDM Hydantoin | fr | Found in hair products |
ETH | c | Avoid any product ending in "eth" |
Ethoxylated alcohols | c |
|
FD&C Yellow, 5, 6 |
|
Artificial color |
Fluoride | oc | Thyroid irritant |
Formaldehyde |
|
Toxic; found in nail polish, hair dyes, and perfumes |
Formalin |
|
Found in nail polish |
Fragrances
not phthalate-free |
|
May contain formaldehyde or phthalates |
Glycolic acid |
|
May cause irritation, photosensitivity, redness, permanent damage |
Green 3 | oc/c | Artificial color |
HMS Homosalate | ed |
|
Imidazolidinyl urea | fr |
|
Isobutyl |
|
Found in hair products |
Isopropyl |
|
Found in hair products |
Lanolin | c | Cosmetic-grade lanolin can be contaminated with DDT, dieldrin, or lindane |
Laureths, SLS, SLES | c | Can cause skin damage or reactions |
Lead | c |
|
Lindane |
|
|
Methyl-benzylidene Camphor 4-MBC | ed |
|
Methylcloroisothiazolinone |
|
Harmful to nervous system; allergen |
Mineral oil |
|
By-product of petroleum; clogs pores |
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) |
|
https://www.msgmyth.com |
Nitro musks | ed |
|
OD-PABA Octyl-dimethyl PABA | ed |
|
OMC Octyl-methoxycinnamate | ed |
|
Oxybenzone | ed | Damages cell protein/DNA; found in sunscreens |
Padimate o | np |
|
Parabens | ed | Found in breast cancer cells |
Para-phenylenediamine | oc |
|
PEG | c | Allergen; linked to cancer; found in hair products |
Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly) |
|
|
Phthalates |
|
|
Polycyclic Musks | ed |
|
Polyethylene |
|
Found in hair products |
Polysorbate | c |
|
Propyl |
|
Found in hair products |
Propylene glycol |
|
|
Quarternium 15 |
|
|
Resorcinol |
|
|
Retinyl Palmitate/Retinol |
|
Found in moisturizers, lip products, sunscreens |
Saccharin | oc |
|
Silica |
|
|
Talc | oc |
|
TEA | np | Combined with nitrates during manufacturing process = nitrosamines |
Toluene |
|
Found in nail polish |
Triclosan/Triclocarban | ed | Damages environment, skin and thyroid irritant; found in hand sanitizers, soaps, toothpaste, antibacterial products |