These Are The Most Toxic Products In Your Beauty Routine (2024)

Whether you’ve switched completely to natural beauty or can’t imagine life without your arsenal of skin-saving synthetic actives, every one of us is interested in reducing our chemical load.

Given the sheer volume of chemicals we’re exposed to daily, it makes sense to be aware of what we’re putting on our bodies – and now that there are so many effective natural options out there, why wouldn’t you want to give them a go?

But, for this beauty editor at least, baby steps are key. We spoke to the founder of online beauty storeClean Beauty Market, Erin Norden, for her tips on how to make the switch to natural skincare – and the products she recommends ditching asap.

The main offenders

“Deodorant, body wash and lotion, shampoo and conditioner and perfume are some of the most toxic and unhealthy products women use every day,” says Norden. “These can contain ingredients like aluminium, fragrance, triclosan, sulfates and parabens to name only a few.”

Of course, the jury is still out on whether many of the above ingredients are bad for us in low concentrations or not. But in the interests of being safe rather than sorry, if you were to swap just three of your current beauty products with natural versions, these are the ones Norden would recommend first:

1. Deodorant

“Mainstream deodorant usually contains quite a few unfavourable ingredients, including aluminium, perfume,pthalates, triclosan and propylene glycol,” Norden says. “There are many effective clean deodorants now available which contain vegetable powders, charcoal and oils selected for their anti-bacterial and odour control qualities.” Clean Beauty Market’s most popular natural deodorants areMeow Meow Tweet(used by Emma Watson) and Soapwalla.

These Are The Most Toxic Products In Your Beauty Routine (1)

Clean Beauty Market Image

2. Body Cream

“Body washes and creams can contain an array of toxic chemicals and as creams stay on the skin for longer, it’s really important to choose safe versions,” Norden says. “Body oils, natural body creams or balms are much better alternatives.”

3. Face Moisturiser

“Fragrance, silicones, chemical preservatives and some alcohols should be avoided,” Norden says. “Non-toxic formulations that are backed by science and full of quality ingredients that are actually beneficial to skin instead of only beneficial to the look and feel of the product are the way to go!”

This article originally appeared onMarie Claire.

RELATED:6 Beauty Products You Should NOT Use Every Day

These Are The Most Toxic Products In Your Beauty Routine (2024)

FAQs

These Are The Most Toxic Products In Your Beauty Routine? ›

Products that we use daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics, can also be toxic. Any chemical can be toxic or harmful under certain conditions.

What ingredients are toxic in skin care? ›

12 Toxic Skincare Ingredients To Avoid
  • Parabens.
  • Phthalates.
  • Formaldehyde.
  • Fragrance/Parfum.
  • Mineral oil.
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
  • Aluminum.
  • Coal tar dyes.

What cosmetic products to avoid? ›

“The Dirty Dozen” cosmetic chemicals to avoid
  • BHA and BHT.
  • Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number.
  • DEA-related ingredients.
  • Dibutyl phthalate.
  • Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
  • Parabens.
  • Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)
  • PEG compounds.

What are examples of toxic products? ›

Products that we use daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics, can also be toxic. Any chemical can be toxic or harmful under certain conditions.

What ingredients should you avoid in facial products? ›

Ingredients to consider avoiding
  • PEGs (polyethylene glycols)
  • methyl and propyl parabens.
  • aluminum.
  • formaldehyde.
  • phthalates.
  • oxybenozone.
Sep 1, 2022

What should you avoid in face wash? ›

What ingredients to watch out for in face cleansers
  • Parabens. ...
  • Phthalates. ...
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) ...
  • Propylene glycol. ...
  • Triclosan. ...
  • DEA, MEA, & TEA. ...
  • Formaldehyde. ...
  • Toluene.
Jan 27, 2021

What are bad ingredients in face moisturizer? ›

8 ingredients that your beauty products should NOT include
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Oxybenzone. ...
  • Parabens. ...
  • Formaldehyde. ...
  • Talc. ...
  • Phthalates. ...
  • Fragrances. ...
  • Heavy metals.
Dec 8, 2021

Do skin care products damage your skin? ›

Even though small amounts are used, many everyday skincare products like soaps, moisturizers, and cleansers contain formaldehyde, and it can still be harmful and irritating for your skin. For example, research shows that even short term use on normal skin can cause contact dermatitis.

Do skin creams enter the bloodstream? ›

In other words, you can rest assured knowing your favorite skincare products are very unlikely to ever get into your bloodstream—your epidermis and dermis layers are great at doing their jobs.

Is retinol bad for your skin? ›

Yes, retinol is safe for skin. It is one of the most recommended ingredients to counteract aging skin. Retinol may cause minor side effects such as redness and irritation. However, these side effects dissipate within a few weeks as the skin becomes used to the cell turnover rate.

What makeup has mercury in it? ›

Skin Products Found to Contain Mercury and/or Hydroquinone
Product Name and ImageYear TestedLab Results - Mercury Content (parts per million)
Be Be Special Cream20223,110 ppm
La Tia Mana Crema Limpiadora y Curativa20225,432 ppm
Ling Zhi BB Whitening Cream20221,393 ppm
Skin care & Cosmetic MSII Whitening Peeling20221,581 ppm
18 more rows
Feb 2, 2023

What toxins are banned from makeup in us? ›

Regulations restrict or prohibit the use of the following ingredients in cosmetics: bithionol, mercury compounds, vinyl chloride, halogenated salicylanilides, zirconium complexes in aerosol cosmetics, chloroform, methylene chloride, chlorofluorocarbon propellants and hexachlorophene.

What toxic chemicals do half of US cosmetics contain? ›

More than half of the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada have dangerous chemicals connected with serious health conditions. A new study claims that those conditions include cancer and reduced birth weight in newborn babies. Cosmetics are substances that you put on your face or body to improve appearance.

What is the most toxic chemicals? ›

Botulinum toxins, exotoxins of Clostridium botulinum, are the most toxic naturally occurring substances known to man.

What is the most toxic item on earth? ›

Plutonium: A History of the World's Most Dangerous Element.

What are the five things you should never put on your face? ›

5 Things You Should Never Put On Your Face
  • Hot water.
  • Lemon juice.
  • Toothpaste.
  • Expired sunscreen.
  • Waxes.
Dec 12, 2019

What ingredients should a skincare dermatologist avoid? ›

The Top Skincare Ingredients To Avoid
  • Phthalates.
  • Parabens.
  • Polyethylene Glycol aka PEG (especially in your moisturizers or sunscreen)
  • Formaldehyde.
  • Triclosan & Triclocarban.
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate aka SLS.
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
  • Methylparaben.
Oct 28, 2022

What is the healthiest thing to wash your face with? ›

Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Resist the temptation to scrub your skin because scrubbing irritates the skin. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.

Which face wash is toxic free? ›

Best Chemical-free Face Wash In India (Paraben and SLS-free)
S. NoProduct NamesPrices
2Elemnt Cleanface18 Charcoal Face Wash For MenRs. 249
3FoxTale - The Daily Duet Gentle Cleanser Hydrating 2-in-1 Face WashRs. 313
4RUBAB MEN Face Time Face & Beard Wash for MenRs. 251
5Truthsome Oil Control Face WashRs. 261
6 more rows

Which face wash is healthy? ›

Ans. Minimalist Salicylic Acid Face Wash, Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow face wash, Mamaearth Natural Face Wash, and Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash.

Why do dermatologists not recommend moisturizer? ›

“When you use moisturizer every day, you run the risk of making your skin older, not younger,” he warned. “If you apply a lot of moisture, skin will become sensitive, dry, dull, and interfere with natural hydration.”

Why La Roche Posay is so good? ›

The benefit of La Roche-Posay is its high-quality formulations that address specific skin concerns, including sensitive skin, dryness, acne, and rosacea. The products are well-researched and tested for efficacy and safety. La Roche-Posay is also a widely available and generally affordable brand.

Is using no skincare better? ›

Eliminating all products can potentially wreak havoc on your skin, so this is something that I don't recommend,” she says. “For example, if you stop washing your face with a cleanser, dirt, debris, makeup, and oil can build up, resulting in more breakouts.”

Should I quit skincare? ›

Abstaining from skincare does not have to be forever. However, I recommend sticking to this extreme minimalist formula at least until your skin adjusts back to its baseline state, usually around one month. Quitting too early defeats the purpose of detoxing and your skin will not have enough time to naturally renew.

What part of the skin absorbs the fastest? ›

In general, the rate of absorption of chemicals through skin follows the following scheme from fastest to slowest: Scrotal > Forehead > Armpit ≥ Scalp > Back = Abdomen > Palm = under surface of the foot.

How long to wait between each skincare step? ›

Around 30 secs to 1 min is a sufficient gap between layers in the skincare step. The exception is post serum / spot treatment and retinol. You should allow 3 – 5 mins before applying the next layer to allow surface skin penetration. Apply sunscreen only after there are no traces of moisturiser on the face.

How long should skincare stay on face before washing? ›

Active ingredients are great for people with specific concerns and a minimal routine — but for any kind of cleanser to work its best magic, you need to be gently washing your skin for 60 seconds.

Is retinol banned in Europe? ›

Regulations. All-trans retinoic acid (Tretinoin) is banned for use in cosmetics in the EU.

Why I stopped using retinol? ›

Dermatitis, erythema (redness), scaling/dryness, peeling, burning or stinging, and irritation of the skin are common adverse reactions reported with retinol use, and, in some cases, the reactions are so bad, that even at low concentrations it cannot be used by certain people.

Who should avoid using retinol? ›

Retinoids, including retinol, aren't recommended if you're pregnant or nursing. You'll also want to proceed with caution if you have: sensitive or dry skin.

How do you get rid of mercury in your body? ›

The traditional treatment for mercury poisoning is to stop all exposures. In many cases, chelation therapy is also used. This involves giving a medication (the chelator) which goes into the body and grabs the metal (chelos is the Greek word for claw) then carries the metal out of the body, usually into the urine.

Does Olay contain mercury? ›

In the present study, the level of mercury estimated in Pond's white beauty was 4.727 ppb, “Olay Natural White”, 3.800 ppb, “Fair & Lovely-Ayurvedic care” 2.813 ppb and in Fair & Lovely-Antimarks 2.213 ppb. These were not significantly different between the brands.

How do I know if my face cream has mercury? ›

How will you know if mercury is in the cosmetic, especially one that's marketed as “anti-aging” or “skin lightening”? Check the label. If the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” are listed on the label, mercury' is in it—and you should stop using the product immediately.

What are 3 cleaning agents that is harmful to human health? ›

it's dangerous to bring together two common household cleaners, chlorine bleach and ammonia, as this forms a highly toxic gas. after using chemicals, wash any part of you that came into direct contact with the substance with warm soapy water.

Is laundry detergent toxic? ›

Yes, most laundry detergents are toxic. Popular detergent options contain over 25 toxic chemicals, with many more trace toxicities left unlisted.

What makeup was poisonous? ›

White lead-based make-up is thought to have been used as far back as 3500 BC and, despite being classified as a poison in the UK since 1631, in the West it continued to be applied to faces for centuries – persisting until the Victorian preference for 'natural' beauty pushed the style out of fashion.

What country has the safest beauty products? ›

According to one survey, the highest-quality beauty products come from Japan, the United States, and France (in that order). In this survey, 65 percent of those who used a wide variety of beauty products from different countries placed Japanese products in the number one spot.

Is hyaluronic acid banned? ›

The FDA has not approved any hyaluronic acid or other lip and facial fillers for over-the-counter sale for at-home use or for use with needle-free injector devices.

What percent of makeup is toxic? ›

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics and found that 56% of foundations and eye products, 48% of lip products and 47% of mascaras contained high levels of fluorine — an indicator of PFAS, so-called "forever chemicals" that are used in nonstick frying pans, rugs and ...

What makeup ingredient is a bad chemical? ›

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used as preservatives in a variety of personal care products. Both of these chemicals are also used as preservatives in foods. These chemicals are linked to several health concerns including endocrine disruption and organ-system toxicity.

What is non toxic beauty products? ›

So when a beauty product is labeled nontoxic, it likely means that the ingredients have not been shown to cause adverse health effects at the levels found inside the formula and for the intended use. This is true of every beauty product currently sold in the United States.

How do I find non-toxic skin care products? ›

The EWG Skin Deep Database is a great resource that ranks skin care products based on their toxicity. You can check out the ratings of your current products, or use the database to discover new non-toxic skin care products to add to your routine — look for products in the 0-2 toxicity range, marked with green circles.

What are the most common toxic heavy metals found in cosmetics? ›

Depending on factors such as how we are exposed to them, how often, how long, and in what amounts, heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury can be toxic. Or, in the case of nickel, cobalt, and chromium, people can become sensitive to them.

What skin care brands are bad for your skin? ›

Popular Skincare Brands that are Actually Harmful
  • Mario Badescu.
  • St. Ives.
  • Clinique.
  • Bioré
  • The Body Shop.
  • Thayers.
  • Neutrogena.
Oct 14, 2020

What is the number one ingredient in skin care? ›

#1 Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies, and it's effective because it holds a thousand times its weight in water [1]. This not only helps skin retain moisture but also prevents that moisture from evaporating into the air [2].

What are the four skincare products everyone should use? ›

The Core Four includes a cleanser, an exfoliant, a moisturizer, and a SPF.

What ingredients should not be in a moisturizer? ›

8 ingredients that your beauty products should NOT include
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Oxybenzone. ...
  • Parabens. ...
  • Formaldehyde. ...
  • Talc. ...
  • Phthalates. ...
  • Fragrances. ...
  • Heavy metals.
Dec 8, 2021

Is Kay Beauty non toxic? ›

Promoting clean beauty, Kay Beauty keeps its products free of parabens and toxins. It is also a cruelty-free, vegan brand.

What is toxic free products? ›

The term “toxic free,” is not regulated by a governing body such as the FDA, but is defined by The ToxicFree Foundation, as a product that 'has been created without the use of any potentially toxic, carcinogenic, or poisonous ingredients that could be questionable in safety.

What are the top 5 toxic metals? ›

Mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic have been the most common heavy metals that induced human poisonings.

What are the three most toxic heavy metals? ›

Unlike many chemical elements – such as iodine – these 3 metals (mercury, arsenic, and cadmium) offer no benefit to the body. Instead, these heavy metals can be very toxic – disrupting, for instance, many important systems in the body (like the nervous system).

Which lipstick contain lead? ›

The FDA found the highest lead levels in lipsticks made by three manufacturers: Procter & Gamble (Cover Girl brand), L'Oreal (L'Oreal, Body Shop and Maybelline brands) and Revlon.

What is the #1 skin care line in America? ›

Neutrogena. The brand: You don't need to spend tons of money for effective products that derms love; Neutrogena is touted as the number one dermatologist-recommend skincare product and you can find it at the drugstore.

What should not be in a face wash? ›

What ingredients to watch out for in face cleansers
  • Parabens. ...
  • Phthalates. ...
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) ...
  • Propylene glycol. ...
  • Triclosan. ...
  • DEA, MEA, & TEA. ...
  • Formaldehyde. ...
  • Toluene.
Jan 27, 2021

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