Top 25 Ingredients to Avoid

We know is hard to know all the ingredients out there that are harmful to your health and although this list is not conclusive it will help you make better purchasing decisions. You can also look up any ingredient at Skin Deep cosmetic safety database. These ingredients are not specific to cosmetics; they can also be found in skin care products, hair products and nail products. Just one more way to help you stay healthy from the outside....in!

You can also check out our Outside/In vs. Competitors page for more information on how ingredients commonly found in makeup products but not used by Outside/In.

TOP 25 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:

1. PARABENS (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben): Cause of many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrogenic and can be absorbed by the body through the skin. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic.
2. FD&C Color Pigments: synthetic colors made from coal tar that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation.  Animal studies have shown them to be carcinogenic
3. Synthetic Fragrances:  Fragrance can indicate the presence of 4,000 ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic.  Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration. Can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES):  Detergents and Surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in 90% of personal-care products.   Exposure can lead to eye damage, depression, labored breathing, severe skin irritation, and even death.  Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS.
5. Formaldehyde: Found in nail hardeners. Known human carcinogen, skin sensitizes, lungs sensitize, immune system toxin, liver toxicant, neurotoxin, respiratory toxicant, reproductive or developmental harm, corrosive, causes burns, toxic by inhalation, skin contact and ingestion
6. Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40):  a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier. Found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes. May cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. 
7. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine): Causes allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. Toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time. Used to create “foam” in products like shampoo, shaving creams, and bubble bath.
8. DMDM Hydration & Urea (Imidazolidinyl):  Preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep..
9. Mineral Oil / Petrolatum Jelly:  petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores.  Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other skin disorders.  Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Baby Oil is 100% mineral oil!
10. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and Butylene Glycol:  Potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor.  This could increase the appearance of aging and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria.EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. Found in products such as stick deodorants.
11. Benzotes (Benzoic acid, sodium benzoate or parahydroxy benzoate): Used as a preservative in cosmetics and fizzy drinks.  Causes gastric irritation, numbing of the mouth and aggravates asthma. Implicated in a wide variety of health problems including testicular cancer, cell mutation, and other cancers.
12. Talc: Naturally mineral which can be contaminated with asbestos. National Toxicology Program report found that cosmetic grade talc caused tumors in animals, even though it contained no asbestos-like fibers. Researchers found talc embedded in 75% percent of ovarian tumors studied.
13. Triethanolamine (TEA): used as a pH adjuster, an emulsifier and preservative. Found in moisturizers, shaving cream, cosmetics, acne treatments – including some natural brands. Can form carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds on the skin or in the body after absorption, if mixed with nitrosating agents. Potential asthmagen
14. Triclosan: a synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient is classified as a chlorophenol.  This hormone disrupter can pose enormous long-term chronic health risks by interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth defects.
15. Propylene Glycol: Ideally this is vegetable glycerine mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as humectants. It has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. When you see PEG (polyethylene glycol) or PPG (polypropylene glycol) on labels, beware—these are related synthetics.
16. PVP/VA Copolymer: Used in hair sprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since inhaled particles can damage the lungs of sensitive persons.
17. Phthalates: a synthetic chemical used as a plasticizer (to prevent nail chips) and added to hair spray to add flexibility. Health effects: Reproductive or developmental toxin, endocrine disrupter (xenoestrogen), skin sensitizer, immune system toxin, kidney toxicant; prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union since September 2004, dangerous to the environment, toxic to aquatic life.
18. Toluene: Found in: nail polish & nail treatments. Possible reproductive or developmental toxin, thought to possibly cause cancer in humans, immune system toxin, liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, respiratory toxicant, skin toxicant, water pollutant
19. Acrylamide: Hazardous air pollutant, possible human carcinogen, may contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products, skin sensitizer, neurotoxin
20. Butylhydroxy (BHA): synthetic preservatives, approved for use in food and cosmetics. Found in Lipsticks, Lip Gloss, foundation and Mascara. Possible human carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, skin sensitizer, liver toxicant, neurotoxin, respiratory toxicant, wildlife and environmental toxicity.
21. Lead Acetate: color additive, known human reproductive/development toxin, possible human carcinogen, prohibited for use in European
22. Dimethylamine: Immune system toxin, liver toxicant, neurotoxin, cardiovascular and blood toxicant, respiratory toxicant; prohibited for use in cosmetics in European Union. Found in hair conditioners
23. Selenium Sulphide: Found in: anti-dandruff shampoos. Probable human carcinogen according to the EPA, liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxin
24. Coal Tar: Found in therapeutic shampoos for dry scalp and hair dyes.  Known human carcinogen, liver, skin and respiratory toxicant, prohibited for use in cosmetics in European Union. An increasing number of studies of humans link long-time hair dye use with cancer, including bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
25. Aluminum Zirconium: found in antiperspirants. Thought to contribute to Alzheimer's Disease.
    Found in almost all antiperspirants. Works by blocking pores so sweat cannot be released by the skin. Banned or restricted for use in cosmetics by the FDA.