12 Dangerous Cosmetic Ingredients To Avoid in Your Beauty Care Products

Some ingredients in beauty care products aren’t so beautiful. These 12 dangerous cosmetic ingredients in skin and beauty care products should be avoided at all costs! According to a report by U.S. researchers, 1 in 8 of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals which are highly carcinogenic and include things like pesticides to reproductive toxins and hormone disruptors.

Below is a list of 12 toxic and carcinogenic ingredients to avoid in your personal skin and beauty products – I would suggest you go and find all of your products and start looking up these ingredients and throwing out those products. You can opt for chemical-free cosmetics and natural skin care products which are much safer for your skin and overall well-being!

I like to use jojoba oil as a full-body moisturizing oil (it absorbs quickly since it is a wax ester that mimics our sebaceous oil glands). As for make-up, I do not wear any. I sometimes wear a little eyeliner (vegan, all-natural earth ingredients) if I decide to go out, but normally I just curl my lashes. Surprisingly, beetroot makes a wonderful blush and lip dye.

Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid

Here is a list of 12 toxic and carcinogenic ingredients to avoid in your beauty and skincare products:

1. PEG (Polyethylene glycol)

Used in conditioners, moisturizers, deodorants, etc. It contains dangerous dioxin levels which have been found as a by-product of the ethoxylation process in manufacturing. Dioxins have a direct link to cancer.

2. Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

Used in 90% of foaming beauty care products (hand washes, shampoos, etc.), which may cause liver damage, skin rashes, depression, diarrhea and eye damage. This chemical is also found in engine degreasers and garage floor cleaners.

3. Triclosan

Synthetic antibacterial agent. It alters hormone regulation and makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics. It is registered as a pesticide by the EPA and is classified as a chlorophenol meaning it can cause cancer.

4. DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl)

Formaldehyde releaser preservative with trade name Glydant. Can cause joint pain, cancer, depression, chest pain, allergies, chronic fatigue, dizziness, ear infections, and skin reactions.

5. Phthalates

Used as plasticizers and can disrupt normal hormone functioning. You will often not find phthalates on the label, but some common abbreviations are DBP or DEP. It is also linked to liver and kidney damage.

6. FD&C Color and Pigments

Synthetic colors from coal tar, strongly linked to ADHD in children. Contain heavy metal salts which are deposited in the skin causing irritations. Many studies link these coloring agents to cancer.

7. DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), and TEA (Triethanolamine)

Foaming booster (for hand washes and the like). Causes skin irritations and contact dermatitis. Very easily absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream where it collects and aggregates in our organs and brain.

8. Benzoyl Peroxide

In many papers, called “free radical-generating skin tumor promoting agent.” Two-thirds of research supports the linkage between BP and skin cancer. It is toxic by inhalation and is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant.

9. Dioxin

Apart of antibacterial ingredients like triclosan, PEGs, emulsifiers and SLS. Causes cancer, lowers immunity, causes birth defects and causes depression.

10. Sunscreen Chemicals

Oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and PABA – all generate free radicals in the body which damage DNA and increase cancer risk.

11. Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl)

Preservatives, not always labeled. Studies have found concentrations of parabens in human breast tumors (making a direct link to this chemical causing breast cancer). It is used in deodorants and other personal care products. Causes major hormone disruption.

12. Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol (BG)

Petroleum plastics. EPA warns to prevent skin contact as it causes brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. It is considered so toxic that it requires gloves, clothing, goggles and disposal by burying.