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 |