Shopper’s Guide to Safe Cosmetics

Article from Cosmetic Database
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

With no required safety testing, cosmetics companies can use almost any chemical they want, regardless of risks. Read labels before you buy.

Ingredients to Avoid

DMDM hydration and Imidazolidinyl urea
toxic contaminants

Fragrance and dyes
allergies, cancer, nervous system

Methylchloroisothiazlione and Methylisothiazolinone
allergies, nervous system

Parabens or “-parben”
hormone effects

“PEG” and “-eth”
toxic contaminants

Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate
skin damage, toxic contaminants

Triclosan and triclocarman
thyroid and environmental concerns

Triethanolamine (TEA)
allergies, toxic contaminants

Products to Avoid

Anti-aging creams
with lactic, glycolic, AHA, and BHA acids

Hair Dyes
with ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, all dark permanent hair dies

Liquid hand soaps
with triclosan

Nail polish removers
with formaldehyde

Skin lighteners
with hydroquinine

Sunscreens

• Stay in the shade from 10 am to 4 pm

• Wear a hat, sunglasses, & protective clothing

• Use SPF 30 or higher

• Avoid sprays and the ingredient oxybenzone

• Use 7% or higher zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
  avoid added bug repellent
  
  
  

Children’s Products

• Avoid boric acid and sodium borate in diaper cream
• Avoid 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol in baby wipes
• Avoid toothpaste with fluoride for children under 2
• Avoid play makeup like lipstick, perfume, and nail polish

Use fewer, simpler products.
Don’t trust claims like “dermatologist-tested” “natural”, or “organic.” Read the ingredient label instead
Take label warnings seriously. They indicate hazardous chemicals.
For more tips or to look up  your products’ and reviews visit EWG’s  www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

The Environmental Working Group uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. Often, that means building databases. EWG's data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals.

In 2004, they  launched Skin Deep, an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. Their aim was to fill in where companies and the government leave off: companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish, and our government doesn't require companies to test products for safety before they're sold. EWG's scientists built Skin Deep to be a one-of-a-kind resource, integrating our in-house collection of personal care product ingredient listings with more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.