20 Ingredients to avoid in skincare products

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Personal care and cosmetic products are filled with toxic ingredients that can put your health at risk. I’ve been wanting to cover this topic for a while now, and I’m glad I did my research to let you know about harmful chemicals in everyday skincare products. Because I’m passionate about wellbeing, besides eating healthy and exercising, paying close attention to what I put in my body is a top priority for me. This is the reason I’ve been an advocate of holistic and healthy living. If you’ve noticed in my previous posts about skincare, I’ve been on a personal journey, transitioning to a non-toxic, more natural skincare routine. So, I’m breaking down what I found about the ingredients to avoid in skincare, based on evidence.

Why are these ingredients to avoid in skincare?

Here’s the harsh truth: The beauty and skincare industry is not regulated as the food business is. As weird as it sounds, it may be easier to get a skin related issue due to cosmetics rather than from the food we eat. And, as someone who pays attention to what’s put inside the body, I also felt the need to take action about what’s put outside the body.

Some facts…

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, as of 2009, the European Union banned 1328 chemicals from its cosmetics. While on the other hand, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only banned 30 chemicals.

Surprising right! Well, that means that we’ve been using tons of commercial everyday products filled with chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies. Furthermore, it’s really hard to tell or spot which ones we should be avoiding. You can easily find these ingredients in cosmetics like soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, makeup, skincare routines, etc. Nevertheless, the purpose of creating this post is to help you make better informed decisions about skincare products. Just as I teach people how to read food labels, I also advocate for carefully looking into your cosmetic ingredients.

You may be thinking, “well, it’s not that serious right? I’ve been using cosmetics for my entire life and they work!” “Why should I worry?” Well, here’s the thing, I know many people are not overly concerned about ingredients in skincare products, but the fact is, not because it works means it’s good for your health.

The science behind ingredients to avoid in skincare

You may be surprised, but even certain cosmetic brands that claim to be “natural” can have some ingredients that simply don’t belong in our bodies. Some substances, like parabens, formaldehyde, carbon black and others I will cover more below, have been linked to increasing risk of cancer, hormonal imbalances, and respiratory issues, just to name a few.

The fact is, that it’s not only about the ingredients but the amount of exposure to these substances as well. The Environmental Working Group mentioned that women use on average 12 personal care products a day, which exposes themselves to 168 chemicals. That’s a lot of exposure on a daily basis! As a matter of fact, think about it, your favorite lotion, makeup, skincare routine, fragrance, and the list goes on and on.

So, you may be asking, is every ingredient in my skincare products harmful? Not necessarily. But, in the majority of cases, commercial products have high concentrations of ingredients that should be avoided. Therefore, what’s next? The good thing is that you’ll discover some of the most common ingredients to avoid in skincare and how to identify them in your favorite product labels.

Let ‘s dive in…

Parabens

You can pretty much find these ingredients in most skincare products. You should avoid this chemical because it mimics estrogen and causes both reproductive and developmental disorders, even with a link to breast cancer.

Fragrance

This is part of most perfumes, cologne, and almost every personal care product. Evidence shows that it is among the top five allergens in the world and it could be a hormone disruptor.

Phthalates

You can find these compounds in plastic, nail polish and fragrance. It mimics human hormones, lowers sperm count and mobility, with links to birth defects in the male reproductive system, obesity, diabetes, and thyroid problems. Some can cause cancer.

Ingredients to avoid in skincare: Coal tar

Coal tar is an ingredient in hair dye, anti-dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. It links to skin tumors and cancer of the lung, bladder, kidney and digestive tract.

Formaldehyde

This is a very common ingredient in nail polish, glues, gels and hair straightening products. Experts associate it with risk of cancer, developing asthma, and brain disorders.

Sulfates (Sodium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfate)

It’s part of shampoo, soap and almost anything with suds or foam. I started using sulfate-free shampoos and skincare products, since I noticed these cosmetics were irritating my skin and drying out my scalp. Sulfates can cause allergic reactions, itchy, dry and cracked skin and can even damage your eyes.

Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA)

In many countries, this ingredient is banned because of being carcinogenic to the human body. But, some beauty companies still use it as a pH adjuster. Others just use it to make beauty products thicker and foamier. Always check your hair and skincare products for these ingredients.

Ingredients to avoid in skincare: Triclosan

You can find this compound in everyday products like soap, toothpaste and shaving cream. This ingredient is toxic to aquatic environments and can disrupt certain thyroid and reproductive hormones.

Chemical UV filters (Octinoxate and Oxybenzone)

These are chemical sunscreen ingredients to avoid. Each of these ingredients receive an E safety grade because they are harmful to human health. Check your sunscreen products (SPF creams and sprays, makeup and skincare containing SPF, etc.)

Hydroquinone

This is one of the most common toxic ingredients out there, especially in skin cosmetics. It is part of skin lighteners (bleach). This can cause skin allergies and cancer. It contains poisonous mercury and can increase photosensitivity.

BHA and BHT

These compounds are another carcinogen. You can find them in products containing fragrance as well as sunscreen, lip, hair, and antiperspirant products. Cosmetic companies use it as a fragrance and preservative. Besides the risk of cancer, this product can affect your hormones.

Ingredients to avoid in skincare: Toluene

You may want to look for this ingredient in your favorite nail polish because this solvent is toxic to the liver and immune system. Look for brands that are “3 free” or higher.

PEG compounds

PEG’s are other ingredients to avoid in skincare products. Makeup and other cosmetics with a creamy thick, moisture-heavy texture usually have PEG’s. You may also see them in hair dye and moisturizers. So, make sure you avoid them, as they can be toxic and irritate your skin.

Ingredients to avoid in skincare: Siloxanes

You can see these components in products like deodorant creams, moisturizers, facial treatments, and medical implants. Companies use them in cosmetics to soften, smooth, and moisten. But, the problem with these ingredients is that they can cause disruption in your hormone, fertility problems, even tumors and nerve issues.

Benzalkonium Chloride

This ingredient is commonly found in sunscreens and moisturizers. It is an organic salt that acts as a surfactant in cosmetics. The bad thing is that it can cause severe irritation in the eyes, skin, and respiratory system as well as allergy triggers.

Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone

These are both toxic ingredients that you can find in shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. They serve as preservatives, but may cause side effects like sensitivity, irritation, and allergies.

Ingredients to avoid in skincare: Triclocarban

This ingredient serves as a preservative. You can find it in cleansing products like face wash, hand soap, and body wash. However, this substance is harmful to the reproductive system as well as aquatic life.

1,4-Dioxane

Dioxane is definitely one of those ingredients to avoid in skincare products. You can see it in shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath products, hair relaxers, and others. However, the main concern with this product is the risk of cancer.

Aluminum

Commonly found in deodorant and antiperspirant, aluminum in high amounts can lead to breast cancer. Besides that, it links to Alzheimer’s and kidney disease.

Mineral Oil

You can find this ingredient in lipsticks, lotions, creams and ointments. Another common name for this one is petroleum jelly, which clogs pores, increases acne, blackheads, and allergic breathing reactions.

Source: The MADE SAFE Hazard List of Chemicals, Materials & Ingredients

How to beware of ingredients to avoid in skincare

The best thing you can do to avoid these types of ingredients in your skincare products, is to always check the labels. Inform yourself about what skincare brands are non-toxic and that have natural ingredients. The best part is that it’s not a hard task to do. Even if you don’t care that much about eliminating all toxic cosmetics in your household, you may at least want to look out for products that have less of these chemicals. There are many natural skincare brands that you can find out there.

I personally transitioned to clean beauty products for my skincare and makeup. And, I did the same thing for my natural afro hair. In fact, it’s been the best decision ever! One of the major changes I noticed by using natural, clean beauty brands is how healthier my skin and scalp became, overall. You can notice it in the texture, complexion, moisture and even appearance. So, I definitely recommend you try out clean beauty brands for the sake of your skin and health.

One of my favorite brands I’m currently using is The Detox Market, which is a clean beauty company, with non-toxic, animal cruelty free and environmental-friendly values. What I love about these products is how it helped my skin become healthier in all aspects. And the best thing is that you don’t have to break the bank to use more natural skincare routines. Check out their routines below, you’ll get a discount when you get them.

Finally,

Choosing your skincare products carefully should be a priority to stay healthy as well. Many of the common everyday cosmetics we use can have toxic ingredients, so always be on the lookout for these substances. Go for more natural skincare, have other healthier habits like your food and physical activity, as well as staying hydrated. Check out for natural skincare brand alternatives. What are your current product choices? Let me know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.