Ingredients to Avoid

PARABENS:(methyl, propyl, ethyl, isobutyl, butyl, benzyl) petro-chemicals, implicated in a multitude of health problems, estrogenic, cancer causing, allergenic, found in cancerous breast tissue, possibly replicates in dna, stored in fat cells

PEG ingredients: carcinogens, acne promoters, contact dermatitis

PETROLEUM: (petrolatum, mineral oils, vaseline) acne producing, may be carcinogenic, causes long term dry skin, respiratory toxin

PHTHALATES: such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), not necessarily mentioned on a label, look out for those convenient, squeezable plastics and by all means don't heat them! reproductive toxins, birth defects of the male reproductive system, carcinogens, mutation agents, stored in fat cells

PROPYLENE GLYCOL: easily absorbed petrochemical solvent that causes contact dermatitis, skin irritations, acne and allergies

PVP: widely used synthetic polymer, cancer causing

STEARIC: (acid and others) carcinogens, skin irritants, comedogenic

SILICA: known human carcinogen. may be in the form of tiny particles of glass, sand or bits of ground quartz from mining operations, or even an extract from horsetail plant

HYDROXYMETHYL GLYCINATE: releases formaldehyde, a known cancer agent

TALC: can contain asbestos, do not use on babies, linked to ovarian cancer, respiratory toxin

TEA ingredients: (not tea, but rather ingredients with TEA in front) severe irritants, can contain ammonium salts, eye irritant, sensitizer, may cause formation of carcinogens

Ingredients to Avoid

FORMALDEHYDE: is often hidden in other ingredients, banned in Sweden and Japan mainly because of its inability to inhibit the growth of acid producing bacteria and its implication in cancer

FRAGRANCE: highly allergenic. no one has to list the chemicals used in fragrances. contains large quantities of toxins and chemicals not disclosed.  fragrance-free means that fragrance chemicals have been added to the product to mask the natural aromas of the ingredients

GLYCERIN: look for vegetable glycerin, glycerin without the vegetable qualifier usually means petrochemical

GLYCEROL STEARATE: linked to the creation of free radicals and prostaglandin inhibitors

GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT: synthetic preservatives triclosan, methyl paraben and benzethonium chloride can be added to preserve personal care products, however, companies do not have to list this ingredient since it is contained within the extract

HYDROQUINONE: toxic, irritant, banned in Europe, can cause hyper-pigmentation

IMIDAZALIDOL UREA: strong irritant, releases formaldehyde, toxic

LAURETH FAMILY: (ingredients with laureth, laurate or lauryl extensions) carcinogenic, skin irritants, may be contaminated with large amounts of toxins in manufacturing process, contains ammonium salts, mutagen, acne producing

PABA: may cause formation of nitrosamines, cause photosensitivity, being studied for carcinogenic implications

Ingredients to Avoid

ALUMINUM ingredients: skin irritants, can cause Alzheimer's, lung disease

AMMONIUM ingredients: toxic, carcinogenic

BENZOATES/BENZOPHENONES: implicated in a wide variety of health problems, testicular cancer, cell mutation, and other cancers

BHA & BHT: cancer, encourages the breakdown of vitamins such as vitamin d, can cause lipid and cholesterol levels to increase, endocrine disrupter

CETEARETH: carcinogen

COAL TAR: (petrochemical. look for cade tar or pine tar instead) low-level exposure is linked to cancer

COLORANTS: (fd&c and other coal tar dyes) carcinogens, topical irritants, may cause acne and skin irritations, may contain aluminums, have caused tumors in rats, low-level exposure is linked to cancer

COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: usually written as derived from palm, however contains a significant petroleum component and can cause serious irritation and allergenic response

DIMETHICONE: (and other methicone ingredients) cancer suspect, caused tumors and mutation in lab animals

DEA ingredients: (all ingredients with DEA after the first word) cause cancer

EMULSIFYING WAXES: (and the "fatty acids") linked to the creation of free radicals and prostaglandin inhibitors