Phenoxyethanol.

Used as an anti-bacterial in cosmetics and stabilizer in perfumes, phenoxyethanol is actually very harmful. It is harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin, especially to nursing mothers or infants. It can have an effect on the brain and the central nervous system. It irritates skin and eyes, and can cause blistering on skin. Although many skin care products (even some organic products as well) use phenoxyethanol in small amounts that is “not harmful” to skin, if you use the product multiple times a day, every day, it can cumulate and possibly affect you.

Diazolidinyl Urea.

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium-15 and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate) found in soaps and cosmetics, are said to slowly release cancer-causing formaldehyde in small amounts.

Avoid products that list any of the following names in the ingredients:

• Diazolidinyl urea

• Diazolidinylurea

• Germall II

• Imidazolidinyl urea 11

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate must never be used near the eyes, inner nose, and ears, or on any other particularly sensitive areas of skin. Potential side effects of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate include eye irritation and lung irritation. It is highly recommended that protective gloves, masks, and goggles be worn any time this product is handled.

Pregnant and nursing women as well as those with sensitive skin are especially advised not to use Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Raw Material without the medical advice of a physician. This product should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, especially those under the age of 7.

Butylcarbamate.

Typical allergic contact dermatitis may occur. It may take several days after exposure to the allergen for symptoms to appear. Typical symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and fluid-filled blisters. Patients commonly present with a scattered generalized dermatitis or dermatitis affecting hands and arms. Another concern of butylcarbamate is that it may have adverse effects on the immune system. It is also suspected to be an environmental toxin.

Parabens.

Parabens are used as chemical preservatives in wide array of personal care products such as moisturizers, shampoos, foundations and many more. Over the past few years there has been a huge debate whether parabens are safe to use or not. Some say excessive amount of exposure to parabens may lead to breast cancer, but some argue that daily cosmetic exposure to parabens does not cause you any harm. Basically, everyone’s skin reacts differently depending on various chemicals and skin type. If you would like to take caution, you can definitely find many products without parabens.

Sulfates.

Again, one of the ingredients that is widely disputed whether it is safe to use or not. You probably are contacting with sulfates on a daily basis. Sulfates are also found in variety of products from toothpaste to cleansers to also help with foaming. There are a lot of different types of sulfates, but the ones that are used most commonly are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Sulfates are known to strip away valuable moisture and protective barriers, irritating the skin more. Some say it causes no problem in small amounts, but others say it can cause cancer when combined with other substances or is heated. 

Artificial dyes.

On the label: FD&C, D&C, name of a color followed by a number or "dye". Artificial dyes may come from petroleum or may contain heavy metals. Some artificial dyes may cause irritation or sensitivity according to EWG, or may be contaminated with recognized carcinogens according to CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest).

In a battle against acne, artificial colorants work against you. They can block your pores and interfere with your skin’s natural oil balance, which makes you prone to blemishes. In particular, red dyes seem to have this problem. Still, any irritation can affect your oil production and your risk for acne as well, so it’s better to avoid artificial colors altogether.

Allergens.

On label: Phenoxyethanol, Cinnamal, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene and Linalool. These are all allergenic substances listed by the European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (CSSC) and the EWG. They pose risks of toxicity, irritation and skin allergies. The phenoxyethanol is classified in particular as "moderate danger" for health, in particular for its toxicity to the immune system and for allergies, according to EWG.

Phthalates.

Phthalates are used in cosmetics as lubricants (softeners). You can find these in products such as nail polish, moisturizers, shampoos, hair sprays, toys, detergents, and other variety of products. They are known to be endocrine disruptors that is linked to breast cancer and reproductive birth defects in males and females. Phthalates is also known to have some possible effects on hormones. Unfortunately, this is included in many "fragrances" so it is hard to detect in products.

Coconut oil.

Coconut oil has one of the highest comedogenic ratings, which means that it could be a big problem for sensitive or blemish-prone skin. This means coconut oil can’t penetrate the pores and actually can suffocate your skin and will clog your pores because it sits on top of the skin.

What is a comedogenic rating? Essentially, beauty products are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on their pore-clogging potential, with 1 being the least likely to clog your pores, and 5 being reserved for the worst offenders.

But a higher rating does increase the likelihood that a comedogenic ingredient, like coconut oil (which scores a whopping 4 out of 5 on the scale) will likely cause a negative reaction.