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