Be sure to check your labels very closely before you open that bottle or jar to make sure they don’t contain any of these hazardous ingredients.

These are the top ten ingredients in popular beauty and body care products that can potentially cause serious harm to you or those around you. Be sure to check your medicine cabinets, drawers, and bags to see if what you are using to make yourself look better could actually be making you feel worse.

1. Parabens
Why they’re used:
To expand the shelf life of cosmetics. They are often labeled as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butylparabens.
Why you should avoid them:
They can alter hormone levels and potentially cause cancer, as well as mess with fertility and/or the development of a fetus or young child.

2. Isopropyl Alcohol
Why it’s used:
To change the natural properties of another ingredient by acting as a solvent.
Why you should avoid it:
It is a poisonous substance also used in antifreeze and shellac.

3. Mineral Oil
Why it’s used:
To coat the the skin and keep it from drying out (baby oil is 100% mineral oil)
Why you should avoid it:
It clogs pores prohibiting the skin from breathing and also from flushing toxins (causing skin irritations like acne and rashes).

4. PEG (polyethylene glycol)
Why it’s used:
To dissolve oils and grease. It is found in many cleansers.
Why you should avoid it:
It removes natural protective oils from the skin and puts the immune system at risk. It may also cause cancer with overexposure.

5. Propylene Glycol (PG)
Why it’s used:
It is a surfactant and wetting agent in cosmetics.
Why you should avoid it:
It can cause brain, kidney, and liver abnormalities. PG is the active ingredient in antifreeze and the EPA requires workers using the substance to wear gloves and avoid contact with the skin.

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Why they’re used:
They are detergents, surfactants and foamers in soap, shampoos, and toothpaste.
Why you should avoid them:
They can cause serious damage to the immune system and major irritation to the skin.

7. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine)
Why they’re used:
They neutralize other ingredients in foaming products (such as bubble bath, face cleanser, and shampoo).
Why you should avoid them:
They disrupt hormones and can potentially cause cancer.

8. FD&C Color Pigments
Why they’re used:
They add color to cosmetics.
Why you should avoid them:
Certain colors can block oxygen absorption into the body and can potentially lead to death. Many are also considered carcinogenic.

9. Artificial Fragrances (essential oils are not artificial fragrances)
Why they’re used:
They enhance or cover up odor of products.
Why you should avoid them:
Some ingredients in synthetic fragrances can lead to cancer.  Many also effect the central nervous system and can lead to depression, hyperactivity, irritability, and behavioral changes.

10. Imidazolidinyl Urea & DMDM Hydation
Why they’re used:
They elongate the shelf life of cosmetics and personal care products by serving as a preservative.
Why you should avoid them:
They release formaldehyde into the body which can cause respiratory issues, heart palpitations, skin irritations, allergies, joint pain, headaches, dizziness, chronic fatigue, coughs, ear infections, and asthma.  Formaldehyde is also carcinogenic.

To fully avoid such harmful ingredients, consider purchasing all-natural cosmetics, body care products, and soap, shampoo, and toothpaste.  If you would like to find out more about specific ingredients or specific products and their impact on the human body and the environment, visit the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com).