• Beginner Blogging Tips
  • Non Toxic Skincare
  • Animal Based Lifestyle
  • Non Toxic Living
  • All Posts
    • Healthy Lifestyle Habits
    • Non Toxic Living
      • Holistic Dental Care
      • Non Toxic Skincare
      • Non Toxic Body Care
      • Clean Non Toxic Makeup
    • Animal Based Lifestyle
    • Gift Guides
    • Beginner Blogging Tips
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Non Toxic Living
      • Clean Non Toxic Makeup
      • Non Toxic Skincare
      • Non Toxic Body Care
      • Holistic Dental Care
    • Animal Based Lifestyle
      • Animal Based Food Guide & Grocery List
    • Healthy Lifestyle Habits
    • Beginner Blogging Tips
  • About
  • Shop
    • Animal Based Food Guide & Grocery List
  • FREE Printables
  • Nav Social Icons

Ash Esthetics

A Holistic Approach to Skin Health

  • Home
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Non Toxic Living
      • Clean Non Toxic Makeup
      • Non Toxic Skincare
      • Non Toxic Body Care
      • Holistic Dental Care
    • Animal Based Lifestyle
      • Animal Based Food Guide & Grocery List
    • Healthy Lifestyle Habits
    • Beginner Blogging Tips
  • About
  • Shop
    • Animal Based Food Guide & Grocery List
  • FREE Printables

All Posts, Non Toxic Skincare · December 23, 2024

30 Ingredients To Avoid In Skincare That Are Banned In Euprope But Not The U.S.

Want to know what ingredients to avoid in skincare? I’ve got you covered!

ingredients to avoid in skincare

If you want your body and skin to stay healthy then you need to know these toxic ingredients to avoid in skincare.

All of these ingredients are banned in Europe and a lot of them are banned in other countries like Japan and Canada, but not the U.S.

As a holistic esthetician, I’m always cautious about ingredients in skincare. It’s important to always use non toxic skincare and stay away from the ingredients I’ve listed below!

This post is all about ingredients to avoid in skincare.

Ingredients To Avoid In Skincare


This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.


1) Parbens such as isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenylparaben, benzylparaben, and pentylparaben – endocrine disruptors

2) Petroleum Distillates – byproduct of gasoline; possible carcinogen

3) Butylphenyl Methylpropional, or Lilial, (found in fragrance) – causes reproductive harm; skin irritant; possible allergen; harmful to fertility and fetal development

4) Hydroquinone – possible carcinogen

5) Phthalates (hidden in ingredient lists under “fragrance”) – endocrine disruptor; linked to developmental defects, fertility issues, and obesity

6) Oxybenzone (found in chemical sunscreen) – carcinogenic; harmful to environment; releases free radicals

7) Octinoxate (found in chemical sunscreen) – releases free radicals; carcinogenic, hormone disruptor, environmental toxin

8) Homosalate (found in chemical sunscreen) – releases free radicals; endocrine disruptor

9) Avobenzone – possible carcinogen, releases free radicals

10) Formaldehyde – carcinogen and respiratory irritant; causes eye, nose, and throat irritation

11) Paraformaldehyde (a type of formaldehyde) – carcinogen; allergen

12) Methylene glycol (a type of formaldehyde) – carcinogen; skin irritant; allergen

13) Quaternium 15 (releases formaldehyde) – carcinogen; possible allergen; causes breathing issues

14) Mercury – damages kidneys and nervous system

15) Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates – disrupts hormones; damages reproductive system

16) Isobutyl and isopropyl (parabens) – disrupt hormones; harmful to reproductive system

17) PFAS – linked to cancer

18) Cyclotetrasiloxane – endocrine disruptor; toxic to humans and environment

19) Borates – skin irritant; possible allergen; causes skin sensitization

20) Triclosan – causes antibiotic resistance

21) Lead – neurotoxin

22) Selenium Sulfide – toxin to humans and environment

23) Sodium Laureth Sulfate – disrupts skin barrier

24) Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) – cause respiratory and nervous system imbalances; linked to skin cancer

25) Petrolatum – carcinogenic

26) Methylisothiazolinone – allergenic; inflammatory; immunotoxic

27) Mineral Oil – carcinogenic; immunotoxic; and allergenic

28) Propylene Glycol – possible allergen; harmful to environment

29) Paraffin – harmful to the environment

30) Talc – contains asbestos; increases risk of lung growth and mesothelioma

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ashley • Holistic Esthetician • Beauty Blogger (@ashestheticsblog)


Swapping To Non Toxic Skincare

Luckily I feel like more and more people are starting to make the switch to non toxic skincare, so these ingredients are not as abundant as they used to be.

If you’re using non toxic skincare (like the brands I recommend on my blog and social media) then you have nothing to worry about! They don’t contain the ingredients listed above.

If you’re still using skincare that contains toxic ingredients, don’t panic. It’s never too late to switch to non toxic skincare and take back control of your health.

You can slowly transition your skincare routine and adopt a non toxic beauty routine.

I made my slow transition a few years ago. It took some time, but now my skin and body are in a much better place now.

A good rule of thumb: if you can’t easily understand the ingredient label, then it’s probably not suitable for your skin.

Look for ingredients that are all natural and easy to read.

For example, the ingredient label on the right is a lot easier to understand than the one on the left.

ingredients to avoid in hair products
ingredients to avoid in shampoo

Can you guess which product is toxic and which is not?

Vote With Your Wallet

What you buy makes a huge impact on what manufacturers put in their products.

If you’re buying skincare that contains any of these toxic ingredients, then you’re supporting these companies that don’t care about your health or the environment.

Go non toxic and support companies that truly care about you and the planet. This goes for skincare and everything else.

Some of my favorite non toxic skincare brands include:

  • Living Libations
  • 100% Pure
  • Perma Earth
  • Saint Jane
  • RMS
  • Maya Chia
  • Siam Seas

Have you made the swap to non toxic skincare? What are your favorite non toxic bands? Lemme know in the comments!

This post was all about ingredients to avoid in skincare.

OTHER POSTS YOU’LL LIKE:

7 Unbelievably Good Clean Swaps For Popular Skincare And Makeup Products

Review: Living Libations Skincare, Hair Care, Oral Care, And More!

5 Non Toxic Sunscreen Brands You Need To Have On Hand All Summer

—

References:

Zhou, L, Martiner, J. (2022, October 25). Personal care product chemicals banned in Europe but still found in U.S.
EWG. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/10/personal-care-product-chemicals-banned-europe-still-found-us

Faberr, S. (2020, May 5).The Toxic Twelve Chemicals and Contaminants in Cosmetics.
EWG. https://www.ewg.org/the-toxic-twelve-chemicals-and-contaminants-in-cosmetics

Campos, P. (2024, June 11). 9 Beauty Ingredients That Are Banned In Europe (But Legal in the U.S.). Birdie. https://www.byrdie.com/banned-ingredients-europe

Pedroza, K. (2023, April 24). 13 Skin Care Ingredients You Should Avoid. Moon Juice. https://moonjuice.com/blogs/tips-and-tricks/ingredients-to-avoid-in-skincare?srsltid=AfmBOoonUmESrxvbyjXMYDxbqBqMrSSCE3WP7JPIemGNbWf_vFI0p3M5

Zerbe, L. (2022, March 8). Europe Bans Toxic Fragrance Ingredient (It’s Still Legal in the U.S.). Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/health/europe-bans-toxic-fragrance-ingredient/

Smith, J. (2017, March 1). Over 1,000 Toxic Ingredients Banned in Europe But Not in US?. Beauty By Earth. https://www.beautybyearth.com/blogs/blog/over-1-000-toxic-ingredients-banned-in-europe-but-not-in-us?srsltid=AfmBOopiWYEBIslNCLTpF7nrkTSJE2XHWqk_I7LTyr-3ThftJ3gnLPgR

Spread the love

In: All Posts, Non Toxic Skincare

join the club

You’ll Also Love

are facials beneficialAre Facials Beneficial? How I Went From Giving Facials To Telling People Not To Get Them
minimalist skincare routineEasy & Effective Minimalist Skincare Rotuine (Only 1 Product!)
body acne hacksHow To Get Rid Of Body Acne: 7 Body Acne Products & Tips

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Quick & Easy Animal Based Meatballs Everyone Will Love

Primary Sidebar

About Me
Welcome to my blog! My name is Ashley. I'm a holistic esthetician giving you all the best info when it comes to non toxic skin care, non toxic living, animal based eating, and so much more. I'm so glad you're here!

join the club

Reader Favorites

Support This Site

If you like what I do, you can support me on Ko-fi. I appreciate any support that you give so that I can continue to educate and help people with my content!

trending now

instagram

Follow @ashestheticsblog

Such a good day of eats on the animal based diet! Such a good day of eats on the animal based diet!

If your curious, the poppy seed chicken casserole has chicken, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, cream of chicken, butter, and poppy seeds as the ingredients. It looks like mush but it’s so good😂😍 I like to serve it on top of organic white rice or spaghetti aquash!
animal based ice cream for breakfast anyone?? animal based ice cream for breakfast anyone??
As a holistic esthetician I’m here to tell you n As a holistic esthetician I’m here to tell you not to rely on facials for healthy skin. Eat your skincare and practice an animal based lifestyle if you want glowing skin that lasts!
another animal based Costco haul for some grocery another animal based Costco haul for some grocery inspo🛒 if only I could go back and not eat that salmon (I got sick from it🤢😭) I’m going back to mostly eating beef🥩
is oatmeal good for you? I thought so until going is oatmeal good for you? I thought so until going animal based😳
Do you think these bad habits are healthy?🤔 I d Do you think these bad habits are healthy?🤔 I did until going animal based and everything changed…
These high protein animal based pancakes are sooo These high protein animal based pancakes are sooo good😍 Filling, delicious, and healthy😋 What more could you want?!
homemade animal based ice cream over store bought homemade animal based ice cream over store bought 👏🏻 any 👏🏻 day 👏🏻
people get so mad over these opinions but those wh people get so mad over these opinions but those who know know🫶🏼 #animalbasedlifestyle
eating animal based is so healing❤️‍🩹 #an eating animal based is so healing❤️‍🩹 #animalbased #animalbaseddiet #animalbasedhealing

Footer

This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

join the club

Subscribe to our emails to receive free gifts and exclusive skincare tips!

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Ash Esthetics · Theme by 17th Avenue