If you’re reading this website, odds are you’re interested in safer beauty products. But what does that mean? And what are the ingredients you need to avoid? Here’s a rundown of the most harmful additives in beauty products from ConsumerSafety.org—and our picks for safer alternatives.
7 Beauty Ingredients to Avoid + Our Favorite Safer Alternatives
1. Powdered Makeup & Baby Powder | Talc
Dangers: Linked to ovarian cancer & risk of lung disease if you breathe in fibers. Can contain asbestos.
Found in: baby powder, eyeshadow, bronzer, blush, lip balm
What to look for in ingredients: Talc
Alternatives: Talc free products
Our Picks: Sweat Cosmetics Mineral Foundation, NuEvolution Pressed Blush, rms beauty Eye Polish
2. Nail Polish | Phthalates
Dangers: Decreased hormone levels, low sperm quality, obesity, ovarian aging, can lead to cancer.
Found in: shampoo, perfume, colored cosmetics, nail polish
What to look for in ingredients: DBP or di-n-butyl phthalate, DEP or diethyl phthalate
Alternatives: Choose options that do not contain DBP and avoid fragranced products.
Our Picks: Ciaté London, Tenoverten, Kester Black
3. Moisturizer | Parabens
Dangers: Disrupts endocrine system and can lead to early puberty. Certain parabens have been associated with breast cancer.
Found in: moisturizer, shaving creams, mascara
What to look for in ingredients: butylparaben and isopropylparaben (most toxic parabens)
Alternatives: All natural products
Our Picks: Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Day Cream, Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream, Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer
4. Makeup Remover | Formaldehyde
Dangers: Labeled as a human carcinogen by the National Toxicity Program. Linked to cancer toxicity.
Found in: makeup remover, eyelash glue, hair products, eye cream, colored cosmetics
What to look for in ingredients: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal
Alternatives: formaldehyde-free or “toxic-trio-free” products, coconut oil
Our Picks: Kopari Coconut Melt, Boscia Charcoal Makeup Melter, Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Micro Water
5. Lipstick | Lead
Dangers: Developmental and reproductive issues. Kidney, blood, respiratory toxicity. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
Found in: Lipstick
What to look for in ingredients: Lead is not on ingredient labels, but 61% of lipsticks contain lead.
Alternatives: Cut back on applying as often. Lipgloss, chapstick or homemade lipstick.
Our Picks: Kari Gran Color Lip Whip, NuEvolution Lip Gloss, Y Et Beauté Lipstick
6. Shampoo | Cocamide Diethanolamine
Dangers: Linked to cancer and allergic reactions.
Found in: shampoo, soap, shaving cream (foaming agent in soaps)
What to look for in Ingredients: Items that include DEA, TEA, and MEA
Alternatives: All natural products (read labels carefully, as natural brands can still contain chemicals)
Our Picks: Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo, Reverie Nude Shampoo, Acure Organics Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo
7. Sunscreen/Anti Aging Creams | Retinyl Palmitate
Dangers: Linked to cancer and developmental and reproductive toxicity.
Found in: Sunscreen, moisturizers, anti aging cream, foundation
What to look for in Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin A, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, all-trans retinoic acid, tretinoin
Alternatives: Eating food rich in healthy fats, coconut oil, avoid products containing retinyl palmitate and all-trans retinoic acid
Our Picks: Block Island Organics SPF 30 Face Moisturizer, Soleil Toujours SPF 45 Sunscreen, Bare Republic SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Get more nontoxic product picks on our Hair & Makeup and Skincare shop pages.
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I’m not so sure about that Mario Badescu moisturiser… I’ve seen it listed containing propylparaben and methylparaben (over at niche-beauty), and anyways, even if it didn’t, almost all their other cream products do contain those two ingredients. Such a shame, as they do seem to sell good quality for a good price…
Thank you so much for sharing real, tangible solutions to these problematic products! We see these ingredients in so many items on the shelves, and sometimes it feels like we can’t trust anything that isn’t handmade in our own kitchens. It’s good to know we have options :)