Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen (Source).

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In beauty products, "formaldehyde can be added directly, or more often, it can be released from preservatives such as

• Quaternium-15

• DMDM hydantoin

• Imidazolidinyl urea

• Diazolidinyl urea & polyoxymethylene urea

• Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate,

• Bromopol

• Glyoxal" (Source).

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Choose products that are labelled 'formaldehyde-free' and are organic.

"Fragrance"

"Fragrance" or "Parfum" is the hidden ingredient that includes carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins and environmental toxins (Source). Fragrance can include phthalates (2).

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Companies are NOT required to disclose the exact ingredients under 'fragrance' (Source) so you will not know the exact toxins and contaminants in your product. Fragrance is rated an 8/10 (10=worst) on EWG (Source).

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Choose essential-oil scented products or fragrance-free products instead.

Talc

Talc can be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen (Source). It can cause respiratory irritation in infants, as well as organ toxicity in the lungs and female genitals/reproductive system (Source).

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Talc can be found in:

• Baby powder

• Body and shower products

• Lotions

• Feminine hygiene products

• Eyeshadow

• Foundation

• Lipstick

• Deodorants

• Face masks

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Avoid:

• Talcum powder

• Cosmetic talc

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Buy products that are talc-free to be safe.​

Phthalates

Phthalates are used to soften plastic.

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"Because phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastic they are used in, they migrate out over time and contaminate indoor dust and air. They're known for their ability to disrupt the hormonal system, with extensive laboratory research concluding that exposure to phthalates reduces testosterone levels and leads to an array of male reproductive problems." (Source).

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Avoid plastics in building materials, food storage, products and toys to reduce exposure. (Source) Buy makeup made from plants.

Coal Tar Dyes

Look for 'C.I. followed by a five digit number (e.g. CI 56675). These dyes are used 'extensively' in cosmetics.

Coal tar (and coal tar dyes) are recognized as a human carcinogen (Source).

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"These colours may be contaminated with low levels of heavy metals and some are combined with aluminum substrate. Aluminum compounds and many heavy metals are toxic to the brain. Some colours are not approved as food additives, yet they are used in cosmetics that may be ingested, like lipstick" (Source).

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Coal tar itself also includes carcinogens like benzene and toulene (Source).

Aluminum

​Found in cosmetics and antiperspirants/deodorants, aluminum should be avoided in all areas.

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Avoid products with these ingredients:

• CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder)

• Aluminum Lake dyes (e.g. "Red 40 Lake")

• Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

• Aluminum Tristearate

• Aluminum Stearate

• Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Zirconium Octachlorohydrex, Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate

• Aluminum Chloride​​

Excellent report with more information on products to avoid: (Source)

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"Post-mortem examinations of humans with Alzheimer's disease sufferers show that many have higher amounts of aluminum than normal in their brains. Aluminum is not normally found in healthy brain tissue and researchers do not know how or why the metal accumulates in the brain" (Source)

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Look for deodorants in cardboard tubes that are aluminum-free.

Parabens

Parabens ​contribute to endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, cancer, skin irritation (Source).

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"Parabens can act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning, reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes." (Source).

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"Parabens are also linked to ecological harm, as low levels of butylparaben can kill coral"

(Source).​

Petrolatum & PEGs

Petrolatum, aka mineral jelly, can be contaminated with PAHs, a carcinogen; in the EU, petrolatum is considered a carcinogen itself (Source).

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​PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols) can be contaminated with carcinogens ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane; 1,4-dioxane accumulates in the environment and does not break down easily, so it continues to be a contaminant even after use (Source).​​

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This is what you might see on ingredient lists: PEG-40 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Laureth-4, and numbered PEGs like PEG-4, PEG-8, and PEG-400

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Avoid any products with PEGs or Petrolatum in the ingredient list to be safe.

Heavy metals

Heavy metals are carcinogens and cause numerous other health problems. Ingredient lists will not include heavy metals so obviously, so here's what to look for to avoid them.

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If you see any of these on the ingredient list, do not buy:

• Lead acetate

• Chromium / Chromium Oxide

• Thimerosal

• Hydrogenated cotton seed oil

• Sodium hexametaphosphate

• D&C Red 6​

(Source)  |   (Source)

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Lead is commonly found in lipstick, especially red. "Extremely bright or pigmented products, especially reds and metallics, are more likely to have metal contaminants because of the pigments used" (Source)

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Be careful with mineral-based pigments. "They can be naturally contaminated with lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc., because those metals are present in the earth where the minerals are mined. For instance, iron oxide pigments (for reds, yellows, browns) might have trace lead. Titanium dioxide (used for white color or in sunscreen) can have trace lead or arsenic from ore." (Source)

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Look for plant or spice-based pigments instead.