10 Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

Not sure if your cosmetic products are safe? Here’s a quick list of the skin care ingredients to avoid.

For the majority of my twenties, I thought health was really just about food and exercise. While both of those things are important, I had no idea that what I was putting on my skin on a daily basis was negatively impacting my health.

When I got pregnant with my first child at age 31, I suddenly cared a lot more about what potential dangers were lurking in my lipstick, and how harmful ingredients impacted pregnancy. 

It turns out ignorance was bliss. I was shocked to learn the number things in my skin care, and what I should avoid. I was even more surprised to find out there is little to no government regulation in the cosmetic industry.

According to a survey done by Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 products containing 168 unique ingredients every single day. Some of these are know carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, which can inhibit your body’s ability to balance hormones.

After researching which skin care ingredients to avoid and checking my current products, I knew I needed to make the switch. If you’re not sure which ones you should be avoiding and need answers fast, I put together a comprehensive list you can download.

PS: I now write a monthly newsletter centered around understanding harmful ingredients in skin care and cosmetic products. Join my Clean Beauty Community to get it!

Lack of Regulation with Skincare Products

Unfortunately, there is little to no federal regulation of the cosmetics industry in the United States. A product can go straight from manufacturing to store shelves without any type of approval or mandatory safety testing. The Food and Drug Administration only regulates misbranding or false advertising on packages—not what actually goes inside the packages.

More than 1,600 chemicals are banned for use in cosmetics in the European Union due to questions over their safety. In comparison, the U.S. has only banned 11.

But that’s not the only problem. If a product is sold in stores and consumers (like me and you) report problems, like a lotion caused a severe reaction, the company does not have to report the complaint to the FDA. And when the FDA is alerted of the complaint? The FDA has no authority to issue a recall of cosmetic products. Companies must self regulate.

Here are some examples of where this regulation hasn’t worked:

• In July 2018, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a $4.96 billion settlement to 22 women who found asbestos in talc in baby powder caused their ovarian cancer.
• Guthy-Renker, the manufacturer of WEN hair products, settled a class-action lawsuit for $26 million after consumers said it caused rashes and hair loss.
• After decades of use in soaps, the FDA finally banned triclosan from soap in 2016 over concerns about its long-term safety and contribution to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, it is still used in many products like toothpaste, mascara, and foundation.

And there are lots of other chemicals that are known to be dangerous, including many of the skin care ingredients to avoid listed below. Unfortunately, most are still widely used in the cosmetics industry.

Are “Natural” Skin Care Products Better?

When it comes to skincare and cosmetic products, there is no regulation on the term “natural”. In fact, natural products can contain just as many chemicals as conventional ones. Even products labeled unscented can contain synthetic fragrances.

The only way to know for sure if there are ingredients you should avoid in a skin care product is to read the label. Even then, not every ingredient has to be listed, as some formulations are considered trade secrets and don’t have to be disclosed. 

And perhaps the biggest misconception in cosmetics, switching to natural makeup isn’t always better. In fact, many natural brands, including mineral cosmetics, can be some of the worst offenders. They often use a higher concentration of natural materials that can be contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.

Do I Need to Avoid All Chemicals?

Certainly not! Chemicals are nothing to avoid or be feared. You are made of chemicals. Everything that you can taste, smell, or hold—including water, coconut oil, and even dirt —is made up of chemicals.

There is no such thing as chemical-free cosmetics, and “natural” cosmetics are not free of chemicals. What you want to avoid is harmful chemicals in cosmetics, that is, chemicals that have know negative health effects. Just because skincare or makeup ingredients are natural, doesn’t make them safe. And just because an ingredient is synthetic doesn’t mean it’s unsafe.

What Now?

Because there is little to no regulation of harmful ingredients in cosmetic products, it is up to you to choose safer products for yourself and your families. While they are few and far between, there are a number of companies that are paving the way for transparency, responsibility, and safety testing in makeup and skin care for women, men, and kids. Check out some of the Best Clean Beauty Brands if you want options.

10 Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

1. Parabens

Parabens are preservatives found in everything from soap to lotion to makeup. If it has water in it, it probably has parabens to keep it from growing bacteria. Examples include: methylparaben, proplyparaben, isopropylparaben, and isobutylparaben.

Parabens are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body and can cause hormonal issues. A recent study found concentrations of parabens, specifically methylparaben, in human breast tumors. Another study found 99% of all cancerous breast tumors contained parabens.

2. Artificial Fragrance/Parfum

Almost every single conventional skincare and cosmetic product (even “unscented” ones) contains artificial fragrances. Manufacturers aren’t required to reveal what’s actually in their fragrances, so you’ll simply see “Fragrance” or “Parfum” on the ingredients list when it could actually be a cocktail of carcinogens, allergens, endocrine disruptors, and irritants.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

SLS/SLES are foaming agents used in a slew of personal care products, including skin care and cosmetics, shampoo, and toothpaste. They are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. Additionally, chemical compounds known as “nitrosamines” are common by-products of the sulphation process. 90% of nitrosamines are believed to be carcinogenic.

4. Toluene

Toluene is a chemical commonly found in nail polish and hair dyes. It is a volatile petrochemical solvent that can be toxic to the immune system and can cause birth defects. Because of this, be especially careful and avoid nail polish containing toluene entirely when you’re pregnant.

5. Phthalates

A phthalate is a plasticizer that is added to plastic to keep it from becoming brittle. Phthalates are used in cosmetics primarily in fragrances, and can also be found in other personal care products, such as hair spray and nail polish. Examples include: DBP, DEHP, DEP and others. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and can cause hormonal and reproductive problems, and birth defects.

6. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is used is many types of cosmetics as a thickener, especially in lotions, shampoo, and sunscreen. PEG is often contaminated with both ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, and 1,4-Dioxane, which causes respiratory problems and is banned in Canada.

7. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a preservative included in many cosmetics products. It’s a known carcinogen that is linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. It can be found in preservatives such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and imidazolidinyl urea.

8. Chemical Sunscreens like Oxybenzone

The ingredients to avoid in sunscreen may surprise you as they’re widely available on the market.

Sunscreens come in two different forms: chemical and mineral filters. The most common sunscreens use chemical filters such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule.

In 2019, the FDA released research that showed chemical UV filters are absorbed in the body in substantial amounts right after application. And in 2020, the FDA released new research that reveals six chemical UV filters are detectable on the skin and in the bloodstream weeks after application.

Blood tests showed concentrations of oxybenzone were more than 180 times the FDA’s level of concern after a single application, and soared to more than 500 times after 4 days of regular use.

This is highly problematic. These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can block or alter proper hormone function in the body. Oxybenzone, which is found in 40% of chemical sunscreens, is linked to hormone disruption, negative birth outcomes, and reduced male fertility.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients should be avoided, especially with children! Oxybenzone can also be found in sunscreen, SPF lotions, lip balm, and makeup, and tinted moisturizers. Stick with mineral-only sunscreens, which create a barrier on the surface of the skin to physically bounce or reflect the sun’s rays away from the skin.

9. Diethanolamine

Diethanolamine is a foaming agent. It’s been found to be a possible carcinogen and respiratory toxin, which is why the EU has restricted its use in personal care products. Despite this, it’s still used in bubble bath, body wash, and shampoo in the US. It’s often abbreviated as DEA on cosmetic labels.

10. Triclosan

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent once used in antibacterial soaps. In 2016, it was banned from soap used in health-care settings, but it is still allowed in personal cosmetics. Not only does triclosan contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria, but it’s also been found to be endocrine disruptor and was shown to contribute to gut inflammation and promote tumor growth in mouse studies. Not good.

How to Avoid These Ingredients in Skin Care Products

Besides reading labels, one of the best resources is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database. Each product is given a score based on the ingredients it contains. Because of this, it’s a super easy way to figure out if the products you are using on yourself and your children are safe.

If you’re looking for a good place to start, check out my Guide to Clean Beauty Brands for a comprehensive list of different clean beauty brands, and where they stand on ingredients and testing for heavy metals.

My goal in sharing this information is to empower you to make better decisions for yourself and your family. Hopefully, one day there will be better regulation in the cosmetics industry and all personal care products will be safer. Until then, check ingredients lists for these skincare ingredients to avoid, and check out my resources below!

More Resources

• Does Your Makeup Contain Heavy Metals? Here’s How to Know.
• Honest Crunchi Review: What to Get & What to Skip
• Honest Rowe Casa Organics Review
• Honest Dime Beauty Review: Best and Worst Products
• Frownies Review: My Honest Thoughts (After 1 Year)