Common Personal Care Ingredients
to Avoid
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Additive |
Description |
Used in: |
Purpose |
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Parabens: Methylparaben Propylparaben Butyl paraben Isobutyl paraben Ethyl paraben |
Commonly used benzene derivative, a petroleum by-product;
sometimes plant derived |
cosmetics, skin care products, shampoos and
conditioners, sunscreens, underarm products (antiperspirants and deodorants),
colognes and perfumes, soaps, including liquid hand soap shaving gels, cleansing gels, personal lubricants |
Preservative: inhibits microbial growth and
extends shelf life of products |
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Side
effects Hormone disruptors: estrogenic (have the ability
to mimic estrogen in the body) and can be absorbed by the body through the
skin. Allergic reactions and skin rashes |
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DEA, Diethanolamine MEA Monoethanolamine TEA Triethanolamine |
Ammonia compounds |
Cosmetics, and
products that foam: bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, soap, facial cleanser. |
Emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. |
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Side effects Carcinogenic: FDA in 1999 released information on a study
that showed DEA to be carcinogenic. The
National Toxicology Program (NTP) completed a study in 1998 that found an
association between the topical application of diethanolamine
(DEA) and certain DEA-related ingredients and cancer in laboratory animals. Hormone-disrupting
chemicals known to form nitrates and nitrosamines, often in conjunction with
other chemicals present in a product, namely:
A
severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant, harmful if swallowed or inhaled. |
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Aluminum
Aluminum hydroxide aluminum stearate aluminum caprylate Aluminum chloride aluminum chlorohydrate aluminum-zirconium Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex
gly Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex
gly |
Aluminum salts |
anti-perspirants
/deodorants |
Block the pores to prevent sweating (react with electrolytes in sweat to form a gel plug in
the duct of the sweat gland) |
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Side effects Estrogenic - mimics estrogen in the body;
possible carcinogen, may be tied to breast cancer (research ongoing.) Blocking sweat glands prevents body from
releasing toxins naturally through sweat. Aluminium has been established as a neurotoxin and has
been shown to adversely affect the blood-brain barrier, cause DNA damage, and
have adverse epigenetic effects- NCBI PubMed. |
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DMDM (Dimethylol Dimethol Hydrantoin) Imidazolidinyl Urea |
Methanol-derived |
Cleansers, toners, moisturizers; foundations,
powders, concealers; eye makeup; facial blushes;
bronzes and tanning creams; makeup removers; shampoos; sunscreens; topical
medications |
Anti-microbial; Preservatives |
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Side effects Works by releasing formaldehyde, a known
carcinogen. Formaldehyde is known to be highly toxic by inhalation,
ingestion, and absorption through the skin. Formaldehyde also known to cause contact dermatitis
and health problems such as migraines, allergies, joint pain and asthma. |
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Dioxins |
By-product; polychlorinated dibenzodioxins
(PCDDs). |
Products bleached and/or packaged in
plastic (toilet papers, tissues, cotton balls, tampons; deodorants, anti-perspirants, shampoos, other items packaged in plastic.) |
Manufacturing by-product of chlorine
and plastics; not a listed ingredient |
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Side effects Carcinogenic; builds up and stores in
fat cells. In 1994, EPA reported that
dioxin is a probable carcinogen, but notes that non-cancer effects
(reproduction and sexual development, immune system) may pose an even greater
threat to human health. |
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FD&C
Colors (a.k.a., D&C or Synthetic Colors) |
Derived from petroleum or coal tar. |
Personal care and household products, food
products, beverages. |
Adds color, enhances appearance of product |
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Side effects Coal tar found to cause cancer in animals and can
cause allergic reactions in humans. Listed followed by a color and number (e.g.,
FD&C Red No. 6) Many FD&C colorings are now banned by the FDA
following tests that reveal them to be carcinogenic. FD&C – color that can be used only in foods,
drugs, and cosmetics; D&C – color that can be used only in drugs
and cosmetics |
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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) a.k.a. coconut derived surfactant, naturally derived from coconut |
may be derived from petroleum
(petrochemical), animal fat or plant oil (oleochemical). Frequently derived from coconut oil
heated in the presence of sodium hydroxide then sulfonated |
Toothpaste, Shaving foam, bubble
bath, shampoos, soaps, cleansers, floor cleaners, car wash, etc. |
Surfactant; Foaming agent;
detergent.
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Side effects Enhances allergic /immune response to toerh
toxins and allergens. Dioxins may form in products containing this ingredient. Strips oils from skin and hair. Skin irritant, dry
/itchy skin, irritates eczema and acne. Per In the same family: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Diethylene
Glycol Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Alkyl Ether Sulfate,
Sodium Dodecyl Polyoxyethylene
Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ethoxysulfate
and Sodium Polyoxyethylene Lauryl
Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate. |
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Fragrance a.k.a., Fragrance oils, perfume, parfum,
aroma, Botanical based fragrance oils |
Synthetic derived from petrochemicals, coal
tar |
Perfumes, colognes, soaps, lotions, shaving creams, deodorants,
laundry detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners, scented candles, etc. |
impart
aroma and odor to products |
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Side effects Irritating to eyes, respiratory
system, and skin can cause asthmatic reactions; many
fragrance ingredients can cause allergic skin reactions. can disrupt the balance of hormones
in the human body (endocrine disruption) and even cause cancer. many contain phthalates, known
hormone disruptors. each artificial fragrance typically
contains one hundred or more chemicals to produce just one fragrance. many contain compounds that cause
skin irritation, may cause allergic reactions of the skin. The perfume industry is not
directly regulated for safety by the FDA in the Synthetic musk compounds
accumulate in human tissue and are found in breast milk. In animal studies
they cross the placental barrier. These materials also persist in the
environment and contaminate waterways at levels as high or
higher than pesticides. Some of these materials are suspected carcinogens or
co-carcinogens. Common chemicals in fragrance are also suspected of being
hormone disruptors. energy intensive and polluting
process |
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PEG Polyethylene
Glycol PEG-6,
PEG-150 |
Petrochemical; water-soluble polymer |
Toothpaste,
skin cream, sexual lubricants, cosmetics, cleansers |
Surfactants (detergents), cleansing agents,
emulsifiers (thickening agents), skin conditioners and humectants
(moisturizer) |
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Side effects Contain harmful impurities, according to a report
by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) committee that was published in the
International Journal of Toxicology, including: -Ethylene oxide: Ethylene oxide increases the
incidences of uterine and breast cancers and of leukemia and brain cancer,
according to experimental results reported by the National Toxicology
Program. -1,4-dioxane: a carcinogen -Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs): Known to increase the risk of breast cancer. -Heavy metals including Lead, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Cadmium, Arsenic |
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PPG Propylene Glycol |
Petrochemical |
Personal
care products from makeup and lotions to shampoos and conditioners, cleansers |
Solvent;
dissolve oil and grease; thickens product |
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Side effects Neurtoxin. Skin irritant. Contact dermatitis, kidney
damage, liver abnormalities. Used as cheap substitute for
vegetable glycerin. Classified as a hazardous
substance by the United Nations. |
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phthalates
(tha-lates) DEP |
petrochemical |
Cosmetics,
fragrances, plastics, personal care products; home furnishings (for example,
flooring, wallpaper), medical devices (for example, catheters, IV- and blood
bags), children's items (for example, infant feeding bottles, squeeze toys,
changing mats, teethers) to packaging (for example,
disposable bottles, food wrap). |
Enhance
and prolong fragrances, denure alcohol, solvents |
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Side effects Hormone
disrupting. May be connected to kidney, liver, lung and reproductive organ
damage. Damages DNA of sperm in adult male; may be linked to infertility,
miscarriage and birth defects. May be linked to premature onset of puberty in
women. DEP
is a phthalate found in high quantities in humans. A
2007 report by researchers at Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry stated
that the concentrations of 3 phthalate metabolites commonly found in urine
correlate with men's waist size and with the body cells' resistance to
insulin, a precursor to Type II diabetes. Found
in many products, but not required to be listed. |
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Petrolatum a.k.a.,
Petroleum
jelly, vaseline Mineral
oil jelly, Liquidum Paraffinum,
baby oil |
Petrochemical |
Cosmetics,
lotions, first aid |
Emollient
– softens skin |
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Side effects It
forms an oily layer on the skin and traps moisture under the skin thus
preventing the skin from breathing. At the same time, it stops toxins and
wastes from escaping. May cause acne. |
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Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (e.g., Stearalkonium Chloride) |
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds |
Shampoos, conditioners, fabric softeners, spermicidal jellies |
Surfactants, disinfectants, softeners, anti-static agent |
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Side effects Causes
allergic reactions, skin irritation. |
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