Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics

How safe are the ingredients used in your current brand of skin care products? How certain areyou that they do not contain chemicals that could be harmful to you and/or your children?If you are not sure, use this toxic ingredient directory below and find out for yourself. Thisinformation has been sourced from Material Safety Data Sheets (or MSDS), which is recognisedas the international standard for providing safety information about chemical ingredients used byhumans.

Note:

If you cannot locate a particular chemical ingredient above or would like to research moreingredients, you can utilize the "SIRI MSDS" online chemical database search facility by clickingon the link below.

Open the Chemical Ingredients GlossaryToxic Ingredient Directory

1,4-dioxane2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol)Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)Anionic SurfactantsBenzalkonium ChlorideButylated Hudroxyanisole (BHA)Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)Cationic surfactantsCetalkonium chlorideCetrimonium chlorideChloromethylisothiazolinoneIsothiazolinoneCocoamidopropyl BetaineCocoyl SarcosineCyclomethiconeDEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine)Diazolidinyl ureaDimethiconeDimethicone CopolyolDisodium Dioctyl SulfosuccinateDisodium Laureth SulfosuccinateDisodium Oleamide SulfosuccinateDMDM HydantoinEthoxylated surfactantsFD&C Colour PigmentsFormaldehydeFragranceHydrolysed Animal ProteinImidazolidinyl ureaLanolinLauryl dimonium hydrolysed collagenLauryl or Cocoyl SarcosineLauryl SarcosineLiquidum ParaffinumMEA compounds

Methylisothiazolinone and MethylchloroisothiazolinoneMineral OilNitrosating AgentsParaben preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl)Paraffin wax/oilPolyethylene Glycol (PEG) compoundsPotassium Coco Hydrolysed CollagenPropylene/Butylene GlycolPVP/VA Copolymer Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etcRancid Natural EmollientsSilicone derived emollientsSodium Cocoyl SarcosinateSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateSodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateStearalkonium ChlorideTalcTEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth SulfateTEA compoundsToluene

Toxic Ingredient Directory

1,4-dioxane

A carcinogenic contaminant of cosmetic products.Almost 50% of cosmetics containing ethoxylatedsurfactants were found to contain dioxane. SeeEthoxylated surfactants

From Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):

1,4-DIOXANE MAY EXERT ITS EFFECTSTHROUGH INHALATION, SKIN ABSORPTION,AND INGESTION.1,4-DIOXANE IS LISTED AS A CARCINOGEN.EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: 1,4-DIOXANE ISAN EYE AND MUCOUS MEMBRANE IRRITANT,PRIMARY SKIN IRRITANT, CENTRAL NERVOUSSYSTEM DEPRESSANT, NEPHROTOXIN, ANDHEPATOTOXIN.ACUTE EXPOSURE CAUSES IRRITATION,HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, AND NARCOSIS.CHRONIC INHALATION EXPOSURE CANPRODUCE DAMAGE TO THE LIVER ANDKIDNEYS, AND BLOOD DISORDERS.MEDICAL CONDITION AGGRAVATED BYEXPOSURE PRECLUDE FROM EXPOSURETHOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISEASE OF THEBLOOD, LIVER KIDNEYS, CENTRAL NERVOUSSYSTEM, AND THOSE SUSCEPTIBLE TODERMATITIS.2.

2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol

Toxic, causes allergic contact dermatitis.

(Bronopol)

See Nitrosating agents3.

Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)

A very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin's natural acid mantle, making usmore vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses. It ismade from propylene, a petroleum derivative. It maypromote brown spots and premature aging of skin.4.

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

See Anionic SurfactantsSee Sodium Laureth SulfateSee Nitrosating Agents5.

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)

See Anionic SurfactantsSee Sodium Laureth SulfateSee Nitrosating Agents6.

Anionic Surfactants

Anionic refers to the negative charge thesesurfactants have. They may be contaminated withnitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Surfactantscan pose serious health threats. They are used incar washes, as garage floor cleaners and enginedegreasers - and in 90% of personal-care productsthat foam.·1Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)·2Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)·3Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)·4Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)·5Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate·6Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate·7Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate·8Potassium Coco Hydrolysed Collagen·9TEA (Triethanolamine) Lauryl Sulfate·10TEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth Sulfate·11Lauryl or Cocoyl Sarcosine·12Disodium Oleamide Sulfosuccinate·13Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate·14Disodium Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate etc7.

Benzalkonium Chloride

Highly toxic, primary skin irritant.See Cationic surfactants

From Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):

MATERIAL IS HIGHLY TOXIC VIA ORAL ROUTE.