There are several “ingredients to avoid” lists out there. Here are some of the ingredients we found on those lists and why they’re there. This should not be taken as a recommendation from us that you should avoid all of these ingredients. Some of the products we offer contain ingredients on the “avoid” list. Why? Frankly, there are very, very few products that do not contain at least some of these ingredients. It has been estimated that 99% of cosmetic products contain some form of paraben (a preservative). If you think that’s scary (we don’t), after looking at this list, look at your toothpaste and deodorant ingredients.
So, avoiding these ingredients is extremely difficult. And, in our opinion it is really unnecessary. If you do find completely natural alternatives, they’re probably going to be expensive and may have a short shelf life. Your choices are going to be limited. While researching this topic, we found one particular person’s opinion that had some very harsh warnings. Just reading what he had to say could almost make you scared to put anything in your mouth or on your body (including just plain old soap). He listed some frequently asked
questions, which were mainly “What should I use instead?” He had almost no answers for anything. No recommendations on how to avoid the dreaded ingredient, just avoid them. This highlights how difficult it is to completely avoid these ingredients. We also found that companies selling “natural” products tended to grossly exaggerate the dangers of ingredients they had chosen to avoid. They were offering alternatives, at a great expense, and their warnings helped justify the additional cost of their products. Our philosophy is do what you can to avoid high concentrations of these ingredients and look for natural alternatives where available. But, we’re not fanatics about this.
We present this list to you as a guide for your reference. If you find you’re having some of these symptoms and they’re unexplained or you think they are just “allergies”, you may want to check the ingredients in your cosmetics and hair and skin products. Some people are more sensitive to things than others. I saw a news report of a woman whose son was having life threatening symptoms for years. The doctors could not explain what the problem was. She began to keep a diary and realized his symptoms were worst on Tuesday (the day after the day she cleaned her house). She threw out all her commercial cleansers and began using natural
alternatives. Soon, her son’s condition cleared up. This is an extreme case and we are in no way suggesting you throw out all your current products. However, if you are having a problem, you may want to consider what’s in what you’re putting on your hair and skin.
Whether you choose to strictly adhere to these lists is, of course, up to you. Just be aware that not everyone agrees all these ingredients should be avoided at all costs. Many of the ingredients are perfectly fine, in moderation. Some are almost unavoidable in certain circumstances (like alcohol in waterless scalp cleansers). If you’re allergy prone, you may want to pay particular attention to this list. For your children, you should pay particular attention to this list as many of these chemicals will have a more detrimental effect in children. Pregnant women should be careful with some of these ingredients.
The reactions listed to these chemicals are the reactions of people who are highly sensitive or are exposed to highly concentrated doses. If these ingredients are in the products you use, you want them to be near the end of the listing of the ingredients. So, with those caveats, here is the list:
Urea (Imidazolidinyl) & DMDM Hydantoin
These are preservatives that release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds, and trigger asthma. Other possible side effects include weakening the immune system and cancer. Formaldehyde releasing ingredients are very common in nearly all store brands of skin, body, and hair care, antiperspirants, and nail polish.
Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben
Researchers from the Department of Biology and Biochemistry of Brunel University in the United Kingdom have conducted a study and found that the parabens – alkyl hydroxy parabens — alpha hydroxy benzoate (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-paraben) are weakly estrogenic. In other words, these preservatives have a similar effect in the body of estrogen. They are used as inhibitors of microbial growth to extend the shelf life of products. These are extremely common preservatives and are generally thought to be safe. They are almost impossible to avoid. We have written a detailed article specifically about parabens. Because of the controversy about parabens that just does not seem to go away, many manufacturers have been looking for alternatives for years. Early alternatives were not very effective. But, progress has been made. We have shifted to paraben-free formulations in many of our products.
Petrolatum and Mineral Oil
These are ingredients we do suggest you avoid. It’s fairly easy to. You might have to ay a little more, but not much more. Basically petrolatum and mineral oil are cheap fillers in cosmetic products. There’s no good reason to use them other than their low cost. Present in many most lip products which is ironic because the balms they are in are supposed to protect from the sun and prevent chapping. Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil can cause problems when used on the skin. Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. Mineral oil actually coats the skin interfering with its ability to breathe. It disrupts the skins natural immune barrier and inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb moisture and nutrition. It’s important that the skin be able to release toxins and mineral oil disrupts this. It can also cause the skin to age prematurely.
PEGs (PolyEthylene Glycol) and Propylene Glycol
PEGs are used to thicken products. Propylene Glycol is the active ingredient in automobile antifreeze, this is found in all kinds of personal care products. Propylene Glycol is known for its ability to penetrate the skin.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate
These ingredients are so widely used that they also deserve their own paper (which e have written). These are used in shampoos for their detergent and foam building abilities. They can cause causes eye irritations and allergic reactions. An American College of Toxicology study also reports: “Both Sodium and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. In products intended for prolonged contact with skin, concentrations should not exceed 1%.” There is concern they may cause problems with developing eyes (in young children). These are also in toothpaste.
Synthetic Colors
Synthetic colors are pretty much just unnecessary. Therefore, generally speaking, we say avoid them. Many synthetic colors are used to make a cosmetic “pretty”. They will be labeled as FD C or D C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD C Red No. 6 / D C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors may be cancer causing agents. According to A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, “….many [pigments] cause skin sensitivity and irritation….and absorption [of certain colors] can cause depletion of oxygen in the body, and death”. In Home Safe Home, author Debra Lynn Dadd says that “….colors that can be used in foods, drugs, and cosmetics….are made from coal tar. There is a great deal of controversy about their use, because animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.” The really irritating thing about synthetic colors is they are completely unnecessary except we expect certain colors in products. If we’d stop buying these artificially colored products, the manufacturers would be more than happy to not have to use the colorings. But, if you want a purple shampoo, expect an artificial color.
Synthetic Fragrances
Most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care, and baby products contain fragrance. Fragrances is another fairly complicated subject, especially on how manufacturers have to (and don’t have to) disclose exactly what they are using. For most people, this is not a problem. For very sensitive people, this can be a major concern. See our article on Artificial Fragrances and Essential Oils for detailed information. Many of the compounds in fragrances are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. “Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of many (we’ve seen numbers ranging from 200 to 4,000) separate ingredients. Most, or all, of them are synthetic. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation.
DEA, MEA, TEA (diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, and triethanolmine)
These are hormone-disrupting chemicals known to form nitrates and nitrosamines, often in conjunction with other chemicals present in a product, e.g., Cocamide DEA, or Lauramide DEA. They are almost always in products that foam; bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, soap, facial cleanser. A Federal government study says that DEA and DEA-based detergents have been shown to increase the risk of cancer, especially liver and kidney cancer…. ” Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA can cause allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin.
Isopropyl Alcohol
As a solvent and denaturant (a poisonous substance that changes another substance’s natural qualities), alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand otions, after-shave lotions, fragrances, and many other cosmetics and personal care products. A petroleum-derived substance, it is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac and diluted essential oils. According to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, ingestion or inhalation of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing dizziness, mental depressions, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma.
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