Top Ingredients of Concern
The ingredients of concern shown below are drawn from EWG's analysis of 7,093 ingredients contained in the 14,835 personal care products within Skin Deep's databases. Based on a comparison of these ingredients against chemicals listed in 37 toxicity and regulatory databases, EWG has developed a list of top ingredients of concern comprising known and probable carcinogens; known and probable reproductive and developmental toxins; and ingredients that are illegal for use in cosmetics in the U.S. or E.U., or that have been found unsafe for use in cosmetics by authoritive bodies.
Ingredient Top 3 Concerns
Mercury unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; possible human carcinogen
Thimerosal Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; possible human carcinogen
Lead Acetate Known human reproductive or developmental toxin; Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products
Formaldehyde Known human carcinogen; Not safe for use if aerosolized, in aerosolized product; Skin sensitizer
Toluene Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products
Petroleum Distillates Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Possible human carcinogen; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products
Ethylacrylate Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Possible human carcinogen; Skin sensitizer
Coal Tar Known human carcinogen; Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products
Dibutyl Phthalate Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor
Potassium Dichromate Possible human carcinogen; possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Skin sensitizer
Selenium Sulfide Possible human carcinogen; Restricted in EU cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits); Reproductive or developmental harm - limited evidence
Dimethylamine Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards; Immunotoxicity hazards
Zirconium Silicate Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Restricted in EU cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits)
Acrylamide Possible human carcinogen; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products; Restricted in EU cosmetics (impurity limit)
Phenylphenol Possible human carcinogen; Endocrine disruptor; Reproductive or developmental harm - limited evidence
D&C Blue 6 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive - banned or not approved for use in food
EXT D&C Green 1 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive - banned or not approved for use in food
EXT D&C Red 1 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive - banned or not approved for use in food
FD&C Red 3 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Lidocaine Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Neurotoxicity hazards; Respiratory toxicity hazards
Hydroxyanisole Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to industry panel; Skin sensitizer; Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards
BHA Possible human carcinogen; Endocrine disruptor; Skin sensitizer
Lithium Carbonate Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards
Dimethyl sulfoxide Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Reproductive or developmental harm - limited evidence; Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards
Iodine Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Endocrine disruptor; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards
Phenacetin Possible human carcinogen; Kidney toxicity hazards; Neurotoxicity hazards
Phenolphthalein Possible human carcinogen; Reproductive or developmental harm - limited evidence; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards
Progesterone Possible human carcinogen; possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor
Aluminum Zirconium Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Restricted in EU
Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits); Not assessed for safety in
Complex Anhydrous cosmetics by industry panel
Ferric Ammonium Citrate Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Persistent and bioaccumulative; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Cancer - limited evidence of carcinogenicity; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Brucine Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; highly toxic; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Acid Blue 3 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Acid Yellow 3 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel
Pigment Blue 15 Color additive - banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; in other consumer products besides personal care products
Naphazoline Hydrochloride Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel
Diphenhydramine HCL Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel
Tetrahydrozoline Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; not assessed for safety
Hydrochloride in cosmetics by industry panel; not assessed by industry panel
Lidocaine HCL Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel
2-Methyloxirane Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; not assessed by industry panel
Hydroabietyl Fragrance Association; Assessed by CIR or IFRA
Litsea Citrata Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Assessed by CIR or
(Verbena Oil) IFRA
HC Blue 2 Possible human carcinogen; Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps; Safe for cosmetics use, according to industry safety panel
* Note: This is just from one database source and only the TOP ingredients of concern-there are others. Don’t forget the sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate).
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