Ingredients to avoid guide
Your Skin Deserves the Truth
11 Toxic Ingredients Hiding in Your Bathroom
That "clean beauty" label doesn't mean what you think it does. Here's what to flip the bottle over and look for, before it goes on your skin.
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The average woman applies 168 chemicals to her body every single day. Most of them are unregulated. Your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it and yet the beauty industry has barely changed its ingredient lists in decades. Time to know what you're actually buying.
The Dirty List
Read Every Label Like This
Parabens
methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben
Synthetic preservatives that mimic estrogen in the body. Linked to hormone disruption and have been found in breast tissue samples. Used in roughly 85% of cosmetics to extend shelf life.
Found in: moisturisers, shampoos, body wash, foundation
Fragrance / Parfum
the industry's biggest loophole
A single word that can legally hide up to 3,000 undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates, allergens, and neurotoxins. "Unscented" doesn't always mean fragrance-free; it can mean a masking scent was used instead.
Found in: nearly every product even "clean"
03Formaldehyde Releasers
DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen ... over time. Your body accumulates exposure with every use, every day. Linked to skin sensitization and immune response.
Found in: shampoos, conditioners, baby products
Oxybenzone
benzophenone-3
A chemical UV filter that penetrates skin deeply and enters the bloodstream within minutes of application. Detected in blood, urine, and breast milk. A potent hormone disruptor, and it's destroying coral reefs too.
Found in: chemical sunscreens, lip balms with SPF
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS, SLES (sodium laureth sulfate)
The harsh detergent that creates that satisfying foam. Strips away your skin's natural moisture barrier, triggering dryness, irritation, and over-production of oil. The cleanser that makes you need more moisturiser.
Found in: face wash, shampoo, toothpaste, body wash
Triclosan
triclocarban
An antimicrobial that disrupts thyroid function and contributes to antibiotic resistance. Already banned from hand soaps by the FDA, yet it still shows up in cosmetics and toothpaste without restriction.
Found in: acne products, antibacterial items, toothpaste
Hydroquinone
the skin bleaching agent
A skin-lightening chemical linked to a condition called ochronosis, permanent blue-black discoloration. Banned for cosmetic use in the EU, Japan, and Australia. Classified as a possible carcinogen by the FDA.
Found in: brightening serums, dark spot treatments, toners
Petroleum / Petrolatum
mineral oil, paraffin, propylene glycol
Byproducts of petroleum refining. When improperly refined, they contain PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) carcinogenic compounds. They create a film that traps everything underneath: toxins included.
Found in: lip balm, baby products, moisturisers, hair oils
Synthetic Colours
FD&C Red 40, D&C Yellow 5, CI 77891
Coal tar-derived dyes that are suspected human carcinogens, linked to ADHD in children, and cause skin sensitivity. The EU requires warning labels on products containing them. The US still considers most "safe."
Found in: makeup, shampoo, body wash, face wash
Retinyl Palmitate
vitamin A palmitate, retinol esters
A form of vitamin A that sounds beneficial and can be in low doses at night, but in sunscreen or daytime products, UV exposure converts it into free radicals that accelerate skin damage and may promote tumor growth.
Found in: SPF moisturizers, anti-aging day creams
Silicones
dimethicone, cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane
Not inherently toxic, but non-biodegradable and occlusive, they coat the skin like plastic wrap, preventing absorption of beneficial ingredients and trapping bacteria. Cyclic silicones are under EU restriction for environmental persistence.
Found in: primers, serums, conditioners, foundation · ·
The EU has banned over 1,300 ingredients from cosmetics. The US has banned fewer than 11. Your bathroom products were formulated to a different standard.
The Cleaner Path
Your skin shouldn't need to recover from your skincare.
Every product in our line is formulated without a single ingredient from this list and without the 1,300+ banned in Europe. No loopholes. No hidden fragrance blends. No guessing.
Shop Clean Skincare →