Chemicals of Concern Fact sheet
In the U.S., only 11 chemicals are banned or restricted for use in cosmetics and personal care
products. As a result, many chemicals commonly used in make-up, shampoos, lotions, shaving
creams and baby washes are linked to long-term health effects, such as hormone disruption,
neurotoxicity, altered reproductive development and even cancer. On this page you can learn about
some of the worst offenders and search by ingredient, product type and population.
More About Chemicals
While many of these chemicals are used in small amounts in personal care products, several
emerging themes in the science raise concerns about these low dose exposures. First, while low
doses are not often studied, a body of science has emerged demonstrating that some chemicals can
disrupt the body’s own hormones at very low doses. Second, exposures during critical windows of
development (for example, prenatally or during puberty) may have particularly strong effects on the
developing fetus, infants, children and teens. Third, we’re not exposed to just one chemical at a time.
Personal care products themselves are mixtures of chemicals, and we’re also exposed to chemicals in
cleaning products, food, household dust, and even at work and school. These mixtures add up, and
we rarely understand how. Finally, each of our own individual genetics, family histories, and life
stories can interact to shape our susceptibility to chemical exposures.
While we collectively work to bring about policy changes that can reduce these exposures across the
board, take some time to read labels (or use apps like Think Dirty to read them for you). Here are
some of the top ingredients to avoid:
Ingredient/
Category
1,4-dioxane
Why we’re concerned
Which
Products?
What’s on the label
1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen linked to
organ toxicity can be a
contaminant in up to 1/5 of
personal care products.
Sodium laureth sulfate, PEG
compounds, chemicals that include
the clauses xynol, ceteareth and
oleth
Benzophenones
Benzophenone is used in personal
care to protect the products from
UV light. Derivatives of
benzophenone, such as
oxybenzone are common
ingredients in sunscreen.
Benzophenone is persistent,
bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT).
These chemicals are linked to
cancer, endocrine disruption, and
organ system toxicity.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
and butylated hydroxytoluene
(BHT) are used as preservatives in
a variety of personal care
Products that
create suds
(such as
shampoo, liquid
soap, bubble
bath), hair
relaxers, others
Lip balm, nail
polish,
foundations,
baby sunscreens,
fragrance,
shampoo,
conditioner, hair
spray,
moisturizers, and
foundation
Lip products,
hair products,
makeup,
sunscreen,
BHA, BHT
Butylated
Compounds
Benzophenone, ingredients
containing the word benzophenone
(for example benzophenone-2),
BP# (for example BP2),
oxybenzone, sulisobenzone,
sulisobenzone sodium
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Chemicals of Concern Fact sheet
Carbon Black
Carcinogens
Coal Tar
Ethanolamine
Compounds (MEA,
DEA, TEA and
others)
Formaldehyde
and
FormaldehydeReleasing
Preservatives
Hydroquinone
products. These chemicals are
linked to several health concerns
including endocrine disruption and
organ-system toxicity.
Carbon black is a dark black
powder used as a pigment in
cosmetics such as eyeliner,
mascara and lipstick. It is
produced by incomplete
combustion of carbon-based
products such as coal tar, and has
been linked to increased incidence
of cancer and negative effects on
organs.
The laws governing cosmetics and
personal care products are so
limited that known carcinogens are
legally allowed in personal care
products. Some carcinogens, such
as formaldehyde and formaldehyde
releasing preservatives, are
common in personal care products,
while others are less common but
still occasionally present.
antiperspirant/
deodorant,
fragrance,
creams
Eyeliner,
mascara, nail
polish, eye
shadow, brushon-brow, lipstick,
blushers, rouge,
makeup, and
foundation
Coal tar is a known carcinogen
derived from burning coal. It is a
complex mixture of hundreds of
compounds, many of which are
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs). Experimental studies have
found that application of and
exposure to coal tar produce skin
tumors and neurological damage.
Ethanolamines are present in
many cosmetics and personal care
products. When ethanolamines are
used in the same product as
certain preservatives that break
down into nitrogen, they can form
nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are a
class of more than a dozen
different chemicals, which the
International Agency for Research
on Cancer lists individually as
possible and known carcinogens.
Shampoos and
scalp treatments,
soaps, hair dyes,
and lotions
Formaldehyde and formaldehydereleasing preservatives (FRPs) are
used in many personal care
products. These chemicals, which
help prevent bacteria from growing
in water-based products, can be
absorbed through the skin and
have been linked to allergic skin
reactions and cancer.
Usually associated with use in skin
A wide variety of
products,
depending upon
the ingredient
Carbon black, D & C Black No. 2,
acetylene black, channel black,
furnace black, lamp black, and
thermal black
Formaldehyde and formaldehydereleasing preservatives like
quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea,
imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM
hydantoin, and 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3 diol; phenacetin;
coal tar; benzene; untreated or
mildly treated mineral oils; ethylene
oxide; chromium; cadmium and its
compounds; arsenic; and crystalline
silica (or quartz)
Coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbocort, coal tar solution, coal tar
solution USP, crude coal tar, estar,
impervotar, KC 261, lavatar, picis
carbonis, naphtha, high solvent
naphtha, naphtha distillate, benzin
B70, petroleum benzin
Soaps,
shampoos, hair
conditioners and
dyes, lotions,
shaving creams,
paraffin and
waxes, eyeliners,
mascara, eye
shadows, blush,
make-up bases,
foundations,
fragrances,
sunscreens
Nail polish, nail
glue, eyelash
glue, hair gel,
hair-smoothing
products, baby
shampoo, body
soap, body wash,
color cosmetics
Triethanolamine, diethanolamine,
DEA, TEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide
MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA
oleth-3 phosphate, lauramide DEA,
linoleamide MEA, myristamide DEA,
oleamide DEA, stearamide MEA,
TEA-lauryl sulfate
Skin lighteners,
Hydroquinone, tocopheral acetate,
Formaldehyde, quaternium-15,
DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl
urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium
hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol)
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Chemicals of Concern Fact sheet
Lead and Other
Heavy Metals
Nitrosamines
Octinoxate
Pphenylenediamine
Parabens
Phthalates
lighteners, especially products
marketed to women of color,
hydroquinone may also be a
contaminant in other cosmetics
ingredients. It is a hormone
disruptor and can lead to a skin
condition called ochronosis, in
which skin thickens and darkens.
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic,
mercury, aluminum, zinc,
chromium and iron are found in a
wide variety of personal care
products. Some metals are
intentionally added as ingredients,
while others are contaminants.
Exposure to metals has been
linked to health concerns including
reproductive, immune and nervous
system toxicity.
Nitrosamines are impurities that
can show up in a wide array of
personal care products. While
common in cosmetics,
nitrosamines are not listed on
product labels because they are
potential impurities in products
that contain ethanolamines.
Nitrosamines are linked to cancer.
Octinoxate, also called Octyl
methoxycinnamate or (OMC), is a
UV filter. It can be absorbed
rapidly through skin. Octinoxate is
an endocrine disruptor that mimics
estrogen and can disrupt thyroid
function.
Consumers encounter pphenylenediamine in many forms
of permanent hair dyes called
oxidative dyes. As a known skin
sensitizer it leads to allergic
reactions. P-phenylenediamine, as
well as the products of its
reactions with hydrogen, can alter
the genetic material of cells.
Parabens are used to prevent the
growth of microbes in cosmetics
products and can be absorbed
through skin, blood and the
digestive system. Parabens are
linked to endocrine disruption,
breast cancer, skin cancer and
developmental and reproductive
toxicity.
Phthalates are a class of several
different chemicals that have
various uses in consumer
products. They’re used in personal
facial and skin
cleansers, facial
moisturizers,
hair conditioners,
nail glue
tocopheral, tocopheral linoleate,
other ingredients with the root
“toco”
Lip products,
whitening
toothpaste,
eyeliner, nail
color,
foundations,
sunscreens, eye
shadows, blush,
concealer,
moisturizers, eye
drops
Nearly every
kind of personal
care product
Lead acetate, chromium,
thimerosal, hydrogenated cotton
seed oil, sodium
hexametaphosphate. Note:
products that contain contaminant
metals will not list them on
ingredient labels
Hair color
products and
shampoos,
sunscreen,
lipstick, nail
polish, skin
creams
Hair Dyes
Octinoxate,o methoxycinnamate
(OMC), parsol, parsol MCX, parsol
MOX, escalol, 2-ethylhexyl pmethoxycinnamate
Shampoos,
conditioners,
lotions, facial
and shower
cleansers and
scrubs
We need to list the parabens here
that show up on product labels!
Color cosmetics,
fragranced
lotions, body
washes and hair
DEP, DBP, DEHP, fragrance
DEA or TEA can indicate the
possible presence of nitrosamines
p-phenylenediamine, paraphenylenediamine, 4-aminoaniline;
1,4-benzenediamine; pdiaminobenzene; 1,4diaminobenzene; 1,4-phenylene
diamine
Question: do we want to spell the
phthalates out since isn’t that how
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Chemicals of Concern Fact sheet
Resorcinol
Synthetic Musks
Toluene
Triclosan
care products to hold color and
scents, and have also been found
in nail polish and treatments.
Phthalates have been found to
disrupt androgens (for example,
testosterone).
Resorcinol is commonly used in
hair dyes and acne medication. In
higher doses it is toxic and can
disrupt the function of the central
nervous system and lead to
respiratory problems. It has also
been shown to disrupt the
endocrine system, specifically
thyroid function.
Synthetic musks are chemicals
added as scents to personal care
products, including perfumes,
lotions and many cosmetics.
Studies consistently show that
some of these compounds may
disrupt hormone systems or
trigger skin sensitization when
exposed to UV light.
Toluene is a toxic chemical used in
in nail products and hair dyes.
Exposure to toluene can result in
temporary effects such as
headaches, dizziness and cracked
skin, as well as more serious
effects such as reproductive
damage and respiratory
complications.
Triclosan is a commonly used
antimicrobial agent that
accumulates in our bodies and has
been linked to hormone disruption
and the emergence of bacteria
resistant to antibodies and
antibacterial products. Triclosan
also impacts the environment,
ending up in lakes, rivers and
other water sources, where it is
toxic to aquatic life.
care products,
nail polish and
treatment
they more likely will appear: ie.,
dibutylphthalate, etc.
Most common in
hair dyes, also in
shampoos/hair
lotions, peels
and in products
used to treat
acne, eczema
and other
dermatological
issues
Perfumes,
colognes, body
sprays
Resorcinol, 1,3-benzenediol,
resorcin, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene(mhydroxybenze, m-dihydroxyphenol)
Nail polish, nail
treatment, hair
dyes
Toluene
Antibacterial
soaps,
toothpaste and
tooth whitening
products,
antiperspirants/
deodorants,
shaving
products,
creams, color
cosmetics
Triclosan
Fragrance, musk ketone, musk
xylene, galaxolide, tonalide
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