Ingredient Awareness Guide
Ingredients to avoid and their commonly used synonyms:
Formaldehyde
Synonym: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxan, bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
Known to cause: Skin irritation and severe allergic rashes. Associated with neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity. Known carcinogen.
Synthetic Fragrance
Synonym: Fragrance, Parfum, Perfume, Flavor
Known to cause: Skin irritation, and can lead to immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and development toxicity. Known hormone disruptor and allergen.
Parabens
Synonym: methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben
Known to cause: Skin irritation, and can lead to immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Known endocrine disrupter and linked to breast cancer.
Phthalates
Synonym: 1, 4-dioxane, ceteareth, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, PEG-10 laurate
Known to cause: Damage to the reproductive system for both genders and fertility affects. Known endocrine disrupter.
PEG's
Synonym: DBP (dibutyl phthalate), DEP (diethyl phthalate), DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate), BPA (bisphenol)
Known to cause: Harm to the nervous system. Known carcinogen.
Triclosan
Synonym: Antibacterial, triclocarban
Known to cause: Harm to the reproductive system and the thyroid function.
SLES, SLS and ALS
Synonym: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
Known to cause: Skin depigmentation and damage to the liver & stomach.
OTHER PRODUCTS TO CONSIDER:
Chemical sunscreens:
Endocrine & hormone disruptor
Ingredients to avoid: octinoxate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, benzophenone, homosalate, and octisalate.
Petrolatum:
Known carcinogen and can cause cancer.
Ingredients to avoid: Petroleum jelly, paraffin oil, and mineral oil.