Top 17 Ingredients to avoid in Beauty now!

How many times have you walked through the drug store, looking for safer shampoo or make-up, and have been really confused by the ingredient list? What does all of that mean, and more importantly, which are the ones that are harmful to your health?

There are over 1800 chemicals that are considered either dangerous or questionable which can be linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, hormone disruption, and/or infertility. 1400 of these ingredients have been banned in Europe (but not the US.) The personal care industry is a non-regulated industry and utilize many of these chemicals.

Interesting, but which are the ones you should avoid? 

Beautycounter makes it easy for you to navigate these complicated waters by banning those 1800+ ingredients from their own line of personal care products while at the same time, maintaining high-performance. 

If you want to see if your own products are safe, start by referencing The Never List Here, and avoid these top 17 found in many conventional products:

Top 17 Ingredients To Avoid In Beauty + Personal Care:

1. Benzalkonium chloride
Associated with skin, eye, allergies, and respiratory irritations.

​2. BHA and BHT
Likely carcinogens and hormone disruptors.

3. Coal tar hair dyes
Known carcinogen.

4. Ethylenadiaminetetraacedic acid (EDTA)
May be toxic to organs.

5. Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
Linked to allergies, skin toxicity, hormone disruption, and inhibited fetal brain development.

6. Formaldehyde
A known carcinogen also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity.

7. Hydroquinone
Linked to cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritation.

8. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Causes of contact skin allergies, irritants and sensitizers.

9. Oxybenzone
Possible hormone disruptor.

10. Parabens
Endocrine (hormone) disruptors.

11. Phthalates
Disrupt the endocrine system and may cause birth defects.

12. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
May be contaminated with carcinogens from other chemicals.

13. Retinyl palmitate and Retinol
May damage DNA and speed the growth of skin tumors.

14. Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Can cause skin irritations and trigger allergies. 

15. Synthetic flavor or fragrance
May include hormone disruptor and skin irritants.

16. Toluene
Toxic to immune system and may cause bith defects.
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17. Triclosan and Triclocarbane
Toxic to aquatic environment and may also be harmful to human reproduction.
Source: beautycounter.com/theneverlist

Make it easy on yourself to reference what to avoid when shopping. Any questions? Please pop them in the comments below!

If you'd like to check out my top recommendations for Better Beauty, you can find those HERE.

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