Chemical: Butyl Acetate
Function: Solvent in polishes and treatments; prevents chipping
Present in: Nail polish and nail treatments
Health concern: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness and cracking; vapors may induce drowsiness or dizziness.
Chemical: Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Function: Anti-oxidant; slows down the rate at which product ingredients change in color.
Present in: Lip makeup, moisturizer, anti-aging treatment, foundation, fragrance, bar soap, shaving products, antiperspirant/deodorant, concealer, sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, blush, shampoo, conditioner, acne treatment, body lotion/oil, powder, makeup remover, depilatory cream, toothpaste, styling products, exfoliator, nail treatments
Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Coal Tar
Function: Controls itching and eczema, softens and promotes the dissolution of hard, scaly, rough skin; also used in hair dyes
Present in: shampoo and hair dyes
Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer says there is sufficient evidence that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. The EU banned coal tar from cosmetics in 2004.
Chemical: Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
Function: Used as foaming agents in shampoos and bath products, and as emulsifying agents in cosmetics
Present in: shampoo, body wash/cleansers, bath oils, facial cleansers, liquid hand soap, bar soap, acne treatment, baby wash, shaving products, body scrubs, foot odor cream/treatment, deodorant, moisturizer, hair dye/spray
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems. May form carcinogenic compounds on the skin or in the body after absorption.
Chemical: Diazolidinyl Urea
Function: Formaldehyde-releasing, anti-microbial preservative
Present in: moisturizer, styling products, shampoo/conditioner, hairspray/dyes, anti-aging treatment, facial cleanser, sunscreen, foundation, eye makeup, acne treatment, mascara, body wash, deodorant, concealer, exfoliator, powder, body scrubs, bath oils/salts, eye/contact care, lip makeup, shaving products, after-sun products, douche/personal cleanser, makeup remover, depilatory cream/hair remover, liquid hand soap, nail treatments, pain relief rub/ointment, fragrance
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems.
Chemical: Ethyl Acetate
Function: Solvent
Present in: Nail polish products, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Formaldehyde
Function: Disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, preservative
Present in: Deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, shaving cream
Health concerns: A suspected human carcinogen, it may trigger asthma; it's also an irritant to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and can damage DNA. Formaldehyde is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)
Function: Group of chemicals widely used as preservatives to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold growth; antibacterial
Health concerns: May alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risks for certain types of cancer, impaired fertility or fetal development. May cause skin irritation; studies have found parabens in breast tumors.
Chemical: Petrolatum
Function: Petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin; makes lipsticks shine and creams smoother; helps soften skin
Present in: Creams, lotions, ointments, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadows, liquid powders, lipsticks
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities and linked to cancer or other significant health problems; also causes allergic reactions, and is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Phthalates
Function: Industrial chemicals that are used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics
Present in: Nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hairspray, hair gel/mousse, lotions
Health concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs; they can also cause permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system.
Chemical: Propylene Glycol
Function: Penetration enhancer; keeps products from melting or freezing
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne, deodorant, toner/astringent, foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish, lip products, eye shadow/pencil, mascara
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream; skin irritant.
Chemical: Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Function: Penetration enhancer
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream.
Chemical: Talc
Function: Absorbs moisture
Present in: Primary ingredient in blush and powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, soap
Health concerns: Cosmetic-grade talc is a proven carcinogen; there is a link between use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Data suggests that talc can cause tumors in the lungs; it has also been found to cause tumors in lab animals.
Chemical: Toluene
Function: Solvent to improve adhesion and gloss
Present in: Mainly nail polish and hair dye
Health concerns: Toluene potentially causes cancer and liver damage; it is also a pregnancy concern, irritating to the skin and respiratory tract, and harmful by inhalation.
Chemical: Triethanolamine
Function: A coating ingredient for fresh fruits; widely used as a dispersing ingredient in hand and body lotions, shaving cream, soaps, shampoos and bath powders
Present in: Hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and bath powders
Health concerns: It may form carcinogenic compounds on the skin or in the body, and is thought to possibly cause cancer in humans.
Function: Solvent in polishes and treatments; prevents chipping
Present in: Nail polish and nail treatments
Health concern: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness and cracking; vapors may induce drowsiness or dizziness.
Chemical: Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Function: Anti-oxidant; slows down the rate at which product ingredients change in color.
Present in: Lip makeup, moisturizer, anti-aging treatment, foundation, fragrance, bar soap, shaving products, antiperspirant/deodorant, concealer, sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, blush, shampoo, conditioner, acne treatment, body lotion/oil, powder, makeup remover, depilatory cream, toothpaste, styling products, exfoliator, nail treatments
Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Coal Tar
Function: Controls itching and eczema, softens and promotes the dissolution of hard, scaly, rough skin; also used in hair dyes
Present in: shampoo and hair dyes
Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer says there is sufficient evidence that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. The EU banned coal tar from cosmetics in 2004.
Chemical: Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
Function: Used as foaming agents in shampoos and bath products, and as emulsifying agents in cosmetics
Present in: shampoo, body wash/cleansers, bath oils, facial cleansers, liquid hand soap, bar soap, acne treatment, baby wash, shaving products, body scrubs, foot odor cream/treatment, deodorant, moisturizer, hair dye/spray
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems. May form carcinogenic compounds on the skin or in the body after absorption.
Chemical: Diazolidinyl Urea
Function: Formaldehyde-releasing, anti-microbial preservative
Present in: moisturizer, styling products, shampoo/conditioner, hairspray/dyes, anti-aging treatment, facial cleanser, sunscreen, foundation, eye makeup, acne treatment, mascara, body wash, deodorant, concealer, exfoliator, powder, body scrubs, bath oils/salts, eye/contact care, lip makeup, shaving products, after-sun products, douche/personal cleanser, makeup remover, depilatory cream/hair remover, liquid hand soap, nail treatments, pain relief rub/ointment, fragrance
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems.
Chemical: Ethyl Acetate
Function: Solvent
Present in: Nail polish products, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Formaldehyde
Function: Disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, preservative
Present in: Deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, shaving cream
Health concerns: A suspected human carcinogen, it may trigger asthma; it's also an irritant to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and can damage DNA. Formaldehyde is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)
Function: Group of chemicals widely used as preservatives to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold growth; antibacterial
Health concerns: May alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risks for certain types of cancer, impaired fertility or fetal development. May cause skin irritation; studies have found parabens in breast tumors.
Chemical: Petrolatum
Function: Petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin; makes lipsticks shine and creams smoother; helps soften skin
Present in: Creams, lotions, ointments, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadows, liquid powders, lipsticks
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities and linked to cancer or other significant health problems; also causes allergic reactions, and is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Phthalates
Function: Industrial chemicals that are used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics
Present in: Nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hairspray, hair gel/mousse, lotions
Health concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs; they can also cause permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system.
Chemical: Propylene Glycol
Function: Penetration enhancer; keeps products from melting or freezing
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne, deodorant, toner/astringent, foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish, lip products, eye shadow/pencil, mascara
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream; skin irritant.
Chemical: Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Function: Penetration enhancer
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream.
Chemical: Talc
Function: Absorbs moisture
Present in: Primary ingredient in blush and powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, soap
Health concerns: Cosmetic-grade talc is a proven carcinogen; there is a link between use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Data suggests that talc can cause tumors in the lungs; it has also been found to cause tumors in lab animals.
Chemical: Toluene
Function: Solvent to improve adhesion and gloss
Present in: Mainly nail polish and hair dye
Health concerns: Toluene potentially causes cancer and liver damage; it is also a pregnancy concern, irritating to the skin and respiratory tract, and harmful by inhalation.
Chemical: Triethanolamine
Function: A coating ingredient for fresh fruits; widely used as a dispersing ingredient in hand and body lotions, shaving cream, soaps, shampoos and bath powders
Present in: Hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and bath powders
Health concerns: It may form carcinogenic compounds on the skin or in the body, and is thought to possibly cause cancer in humans.
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