WHY are these ingredients harmful?

– Dig a little Deeper! –

  • 1,4-dioxane 

this is not an ingredient that you’ll ever see on an ingredient label, but it’s one of the most important ingredients to avoid. it is a by-product of the ethoxylation process in which carcinogenic ethylene oxide is reacted with other ingredients to make them less harsh on the skin. the epa has classified 1,4-dioxane as likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

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  • Aluminum Hydroxide

  • Also listed as: CI 77002
used as a colorant in many types of cosmetics and personal care products. “aluminum production” has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the international agency for research on cancer.

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  • Benzalkonium Chloride

  • Also listed as: Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride
used as a foaming and cleansing agent or as an antimicrobial preservative. it is a well-known irritant, and there is evidence that it may cause a contact allergy at concentrations as low as 0.1%. when used to clean the cages of mice, both sexes had decreased fertility.

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  • Benzophenones

  • Also listed as: Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-2, Benzophenone-3 aka Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-4, Benzophenone-5, Benzophenone-6 Benzophenone-8, Benzophenone-9, Benzophenone-11, Benzophenone-12
used as photostabilizers in cosmetics. photostabilizers have a photoprotective effect on the skin. added as a carcinogen to the california epa’s proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity in 2012. different benzophenones may have different hormone-disrupting effects. they were declared the contact allergen of the year for 2014 by the american contact dermatitis society (acds)

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  • Butylated Compounds

  • Commonly Known As: BHT & BHA
a common cosmetic preservative and known carcinogen, also linked to endocrine (hormone) disruption and reproductive toxicity. bha is used as an antioxidant in cosmetic products, especially lipstick and eyeshadow. the u.s. national toxicology program has classified bha as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”, and it has been added as a carcinogen to the california epa’s proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. bha also exhibits some endocrine-disrupting effects, and the european union has listed it as an endocrine disruptor. bht is a toluene-based ingredient used as a preservative. bht is suspected to be potentially endocrine-disrupting and have carcinogenic effects. ​

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  • Bismuth Oxychloride

used to give a shiny effect in makeup. synthetically manufactured from bismuth, oxygen, and chlorine. it is a skin irritant causing many people to break out or itch.

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  • Bisphenol A (BPA)

used in the plastic packaging of products. bpa may leach from the plastic into the product we apply on our skin. the fda has banned bpa in a few products based on some evidence of its effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children.  bpa has been added to the california epa’s proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

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  • Borax

  • Also listed as: Boric Acid, Sodium Borate, Sodium Tetraborate or Disodium Tetraborate
used as a preservative, emulsifier, and ph adjuster in cosmetics and personal care products. can also be used as a pesticide that poisons insects, fungus, and weeds. at high doses, boric acid causes testicular atrophy, impaired fetal skeletal development, and decreased birth weight in animals.

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  • Butoxyethanol

  • Also listed as: 2-Butoxyethanol
used as a solvent in hair dyes, nail polishes, lacquers, vanishes, and inks. in one study, people exposed to high levels of 2-butoxyethanol for several hours reported irritation of the nose and eyes, headache, a metallic taste in their mouths, and vomiting. animal studies show destruction of red blood cells and damage to organs from exposure to butoxyethanol.

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  • Carbon Black

  • Also listed as: CI 77266, Black 2, D&C Black No. 2, Acetylene Black, Channel Black Furnace Black, Lamp Black, Thermal Black
used as a pigment in cosmetics. it is manufactured by the combustion of aromatic petroleum oil feedstock and consists essentially of pure carbon. the international agency for research on cancer has classified it as possibly carcinogenic to humans. it may contain carcinogenic pahs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as a contaminant.

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  • Ethanolamine Compounds

  • Also listed as: MEA/DEA/TEA
clear, colorless, thick liquids with ammonia-like odors. at higher concentrations, ethanolamines may increase the risk of asthma and skin irritation. they may break down in the product and form nitrosamines that are linked to cancer.

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  • Ethoxylated Ingredients

  • Common Ethoxylated Ingredients: PEGs (any ingredient listed as Polyethylene Glycol or with a PEG- prefix), Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate, any ingredient with an -eth
a group of ingredients made through the ethoxylation process in which carcinogenic ethylene oxide is reacted with other ingredients to make them less harsh on the skin. as a result of the ethoxylation process, 1,4-dioxane is created and can be left behind in the product. see1,4-dioxane for more. look for “ethoxylated” on the labels.

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  • Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA)

  • Also listed as: Calcium Disodium EDTA, Diammonium EDTA, Dipotassium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tripotassium EDTA, and Trisodium EDTA
this ingredient is not harmful in itself, but they enhance the dermal penetration of other ingredients contained in a product, so they can be very harmful when paired with toxic ingredients.

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  • Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

  • Common Formaldehyde-Releasers: DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Methenamine, and Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
these ingredients release a small amount of formaldehyde into a product over time. the international agency for research on carcinogens has classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans. the american society of contact dermatitis lists it as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%. temperature and storage time can increase the amount of formaldehyde released.

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  • Fragrance

fragrance is known as the new second hand smoke. 72% of fragranced products contain phthalates, an endocrine disruptor. this ingredient is protected by law & is considered a “trade secret” allowing manufacturers to hide any ingredient under it as the fda does not require the disclosure of individual ingredients used to create fragrances. there are over 3,000 harmful chemicals that can be hidden under the one ingredient of “fragrance”. when you see “fragrance” on a label, read it as “hidden chemicals.”

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  • Grapefruit Seed Extract

  • Also listed as: Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed or Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract or GSE
used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetic products. numerous tests by independent researchers have shown that its antimicrobial properties are due to synthetic preservatives contained in it, not the extract itself. the synthetic preservatives found in gse include benzalkonium chloride, triclosan, and/or methylparaben.

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  • Homosalate (HMS)

used ad a uv filter in sunscreens and skincare with spf to protect from short-wave uvb rays. it penetrates the skin and has been found in mother’s milk. studies have shown that it may be a weak hormone-disruptor.

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  • Hydroquinone

used in skin-lightening cosmetic products. it is also an impurity of synthetic tocopheryl acetate. while it has been classified as a carcinogen, in vitro and in vivo studies show that it exhibits some mutagenic properties. hydroquinone is banned in the european union.

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  • Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC)

used as a preservative in cosmetic, personal care, and industrial products. it may cause dermal irritation or contact allergy. the american society of contact dermatitis lists it as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 0.1%. when inhaled, it is toxic to the lungs.

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  • Japanese Honeysuckle Extract

  • Also listed as: Lonicera Japonica Extract
used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics. the japanese honeysuckle plant naturally contains para-hydroxy benzoic acid (phba), which might behave in a very similar way to synthetic parabens. see parabens for more.

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  • Loose Powder Titanium Dioxide

used as a uv filter in sunscreens and as a pigment in makeup. based on experimental evidence from animal inhalation studies, titanium dioxide nanoparticles are classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the international agency for research on cancer.

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  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone & Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI)

a widely used as a preservative in cosmetic products, household cleaning products, soaps, laundry products and industrial applications. “mi” is a known allergen and skin irritant. “mi” was the american contact dermatitis society contact allergen of the year for 2013. in addition, studies show that prolonged exposure to low levels of “mi” may have damaging consequences to the developing nervous system and show strong evidence of neurotoxicity.

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  • Mineral Oil

  • Also listed as: Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin
used as a skin moisturizer. it’s a liquid mixture that is obtained from crude petroleum . it may contain various amounts of carcinogenic pahs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and other petroleum contaminants, depending on the level to which it has been refined. there is consistent evidence that untreated or mildly-treated mineral oils cause cancer of the skin in humans.

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  • Octinoxate

  • Also listed as: Octyl Methoxycinnamate or Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
a uv filter protecting the skin from uvb rays. it penetrates the skin and has been found in mother’s milk. studies have shown that it may have some weak hormone-mimicking effects.

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  • Oxybenzone

  • Also listed as: Benzophenone-3
a uv filter to protect against uvb and short uva rays. the national health and nutrition survey has found it to be present in 96.8% of human urine samples surveyed. see benzophenones for more.

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  • Parabens

  • Also listed as: Benzylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Methylparaben, and Propylparaben
used as preservatives in food, pharmaceuticals, and beauty products. there is some evidence that parabens can accumulate in human breast tissue. clinical studies on animals have indicated that parabens may mimic estrogen and act as a endocrine disruptor.

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  • Phenoxyethanol

  • Also listed as: 2-phenoxyethanol
used in cosmetics, skincare, and personal care products. it is a member of the glycol ether family and is the product of the reaction of highly corrosive phenol with carcinogenic ethylene oxide. as a result, it may contain residue amounts of both. phenoxyethanol is listed as a core allergen by the american society of dermatistis.

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  • Phthalates

  • Also listed as: Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP), Diethyl Phthalate (DEP), Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP), and Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (BBP)
dbp, dehp, and bbp are banned in the european union from use in cosmetics due to their potential to disrupt the endocrine system and cause birth defects. dep is commonly used as a fixative in synthetic fragrances.

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  • Propylene Glycol

used in skin care, cosmetics, and even in some processed food. it’s a main component in anti-freeze products. it is a known skin irritant and is frequently associated with contact dermatitis.

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  • Resorcinol

used in permanent hair dye formulations and in acne treatment products. studies have shown that it may disrupt thyroid hormone synthesis.

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  • Retinyl Palmitate / Retinol

  • Additional Names: Retinoid, Retinoic Acid
forms of vitamin a. not recommended to use during the day when exposed to the sun. animal studies have shown that retinyl palmitate speeds up the photo-carcinogenic effects of the sun and the development of skin tumors and lesions.

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  • Synthetic Flavors

used in cosmetic products to create or mask a specific taste that may be ingested, such as lipstick. like fragrance, the fda does not require the disclosure of individual ingredients used to create flavors.

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  • Talc

  • Additional Names: Hydrous Magnesium Silicate
talc has been identified as a lung irritant and is linked to organ toxicity and ovarian cancer. talc is used in pressed and loose powder makeup and baby powder. it’s a naturally occurring mineral but it can be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. there is evidence that even asbestos-free talc can be carcinogenic.

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  • Triclosan

  • Also listed as: 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, irgasan, biofresh, lexol-300, ster-zac, cloxifenolum
used as an antibacterial agent in toothpaste and in hand and body washes, and as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products. animal studies have shown that exposure to high doses is associated with a decrease in thyroid hormones. triclosan may interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system. triclosan exposure may contribute to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.  triclosan imported from india and china may contain dioxins linked to cancer and endocrine-disruption.

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