Chemicals to Avoid by Product TypeMakeup (Eyes & Face) | Carbon black, Ethanolamine compounds, BAK, Prime yellow carnauba wax, Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives,Aluminum powder, Retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate, heavy metals, Titanium dioxide | Makeup (Lips) | BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), PETROLATUM (petroleum jelly, mineral oil) | Nail Polish | Formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene | Shampoo | Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds), Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, COAL TAR, 1,4-DIOXANE | Sunscreen | Benzalkonium chloride, Oxybenzone, BENZOPHENONE AND DERIVATIVES, Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, Padimate O | Soap | triclosan and triclocarban | Toothpaste | Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Triclosan and Triclocarban, PEGs (polyethylene glycols) and Propylene Glycol, DEA (diethanolamine), Carrageenan | Moisturizer | BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE | Fragrance | BUTOXYETHANOL, Benzophenone, Nitrosamines, Ethanolamine Compounds (MEA, DEA, TEA And Others), | Deodorant | Aluminum Compounds, Steareths, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, TEA and DEA | Conditioner | Ethanolamines, Parabens, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Formaldehyde releasing preservatives, Sodium Laureth Sulfate |
Sources: ewg.org, safecosmetics.org
The list of potentially harmful chemicals is not intended to be comprehensive. We've included the most common ingredients. See anything we've missed? Let us know at contact@ecocentricmom.com and we'll be sure to add it to the next edition. Recognized Third Party Certifications
| | 5 Quick Tips for Cleaner ShoppingBe Prepared. | Bring along this guide or download an app such as EWG Clean Living or Think Dirty | Read Labels Carefully. | But know that not all potentially harmful ingredients are required to be disclosed. | Shop Small. | The top 7 cosmetics companies on store shelves regularly use "chemicals of concerns" in products. Find small brands & support them with your loyalty. | Recognize "Green Washing." | Claims of "natural" and "nontoxic" are unregulated and must be examined carefully. non-GMO verified, Leaping Bunny (cruelty free), EWG-verified, non-GMO verified, EWG-verified, ECOCERT | Simplify. | Gravitate to shorter ingredients lists, use fewer products and consider DIY |
Why should you care?1 in 8 of the 82,000 ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care products are hazardous industrial chemicals. | The average American uses nine personal care products – containing 126 chemicals – every day. | The EU currently bans 1500 cosmetics ingredients - while the US bans fewer than 10. | Our skin is our largest organ and up to 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. |
When in doubt, avoid these words:Fragrance (note: even the word 'Fragrance Free' has no meaning) | Artificial Color & Flavor | Any ingredient that ends in 'paraben' | Anything ingredient that ends in 'phthalate' |
|
.png)
