Ingredients to Avoid
in Body Care.

Synthetic antioxidants used to extend shelf life in body care products. Both are linked to hormone disruption and potential cancer risk with repeated exposure. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies BHA as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The European Union restricts BHA in cosmetics and has placed it on the Substances of Very High Concern list.

Artificial colorants derived from petroleum or coal tar that may be contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and mercury. Some are classified as possible or probable human carcinogens and are linked to skin sensitivity and bladder cancer with long-term exposure. Canada bans many coal tar dyes that remain permitted in the U.S.

Used as emulsifiers or pH adjusters. These can react with other ingredients during formulation or storage to create carcinogenic nitrosamines — compounds linked to liver and kidney cancer. The European Commission has restricted DEA in cosmetics due to nitrosamine formation risk. Many manufacturers have voluntarily reduced their use, but they remain common in U.S. products.

Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen by both the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Group 1). It is sometimes directly added to products as a preservative, and certain other preservatives slowly release formaldehyde as they break down in water-based formulas. It can cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis, and allergic reactions even at low concentrations.

Heavy metals are not intentional ingredients — they are contaminants that enter cosmetics through raw materials, pigments, and manufacturing processes. The FDA has found lead in over 400 lipstick products, and has issued warnings about mercury in skin-lightening products and eye makeup. Arsenic contamination has been documented in certain clays and mineral-based ingredients. Lead is a known neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure. Mercury is both neurotoxic and a kidney toxin. Arsenic is classified as a known human carcinogen by IARC. None of these have any place in clean body care — and because they are contaminants rather than listed ingredients, they are invisible on any label.

A synthetic skin-lightening agent that inhibits melanin production and is used in products targeting hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and melasma. Hydroquinone is classified as a possible human carcinogen (IARC Group 3) based on animal studies. It is banned in cosmetics across the European Union, Japan, Australia, and many other countries due to safety concerns — including a risk of ochronosis (a paradoxical darkening and thickening of skin with long-term use) and cytotoxicity. Despite these international bans it remains available in U.S. over-the-counter products at up to 2% concentration. At Everlasting Organics we choose botanical alternatives — kojic acid, licorice root, vitamin C, and azelaic acid — that address hyperpigmentation without these risks.

Petroleum-derived ingredients that form an occlusive barrier on the skin. While they can lock in moisture, they do not nourish the skin in any way — and when not properly refined, they may be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which the IARC classifies as possible to probable carcinogens. The European Union restricts petrolatum in cosmetics unless full refining history can be established and the substance is shown to be non-carcinogenic. In the U.S., no such requirement exists. They also prevent the skin from breathing and can clog pores with repeated use.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients with growing evidence of hormone disruption and environmental harm. Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) is readily absorbed through the skin and has been detected in blood, urine, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. A 2023 review of 254 studies found mounting evidence of endocrine-disrupting properties at doses typical of sunscreen use. The European Commission found current exposure levels unsafe and restricted its concentration. The FDA classified it as non-GRASE (not generally recognized as safe and effective) pending additional safety data. Hawaii and several other jurisdictions have banned it entirely due to coral reef toxicity. Multiple other chemical UV filters share similar absorption and safety concerns.

Among the most common preservatives in personal care products, and among the most studied for safety concerns. Parabens mimic estrogen in the body and are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals by the European Chemicals Agency. Multiple studies have found parabens present in breast tumor tissue — with malignant breast tumors showing higher paraben concentrations than benign tumors, which in turn show higher concentrations than healthy tissue. A 2023 study demonstrated that parabens promote tumor-supporting effects in breast cancer cell lines. While current evidence confirms a biological association between parabens and cancer-relevant mechanisms, a direct causal link in humans has not yet been definitively established — this remains an active area of research. The European Union has banned or restricted the longest-chain parabens (propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl) in cosmetics. Given the body of evidence and the precautionary principle, we avoid all parabens across every Everlasting Organics formula.

Petroleum-based compounds used as thickeners, softeners, or emulsifiers that may be contaminated with carcinogenic byproducts — particularly 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide — during the ethoxylation manufacturing process. These contaminants are not listed on ingredient labels because they are processing byproducts, not intentional ingredients. PEGs also act as penetration enhancers, potentially driving other ingredients deeper into the skin and bloodstream than they would otherwise reach.

Commonly hidden under the word "fragrance" on ingredient lists — manufacturers are legally not required to disclose fragrance components, creating a loophole through which phthalates enter countless products invisibly. They are associated with endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, and developmental toxicity — particularly concerning for pregnant women and young children. The European Union has banned or restricted multiple phthalates in cosmetics. The CDC has detected phthalate metabolites in the urine of virtually all Americans tested.

A harsh synthetic surfactant that strips the skin's natural oils, disrupts the moisture barrier, and causes dryness, redness, and irritation with repeated use — particularly problematic for sensitive, eczema-prone, or reactive skin. SLS is used industrially as a degreaser and engine cleaner, and its inclusion in personal care products reflects its effectiveness at removing oils — including the oils the skin needs. It has also been shown to increase skin permeability, potentially allowing other ingredients to penetrate more deeply than intended.

A broad umbrella term that can legally contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals — including phthalates, allergens, neurotoxins, and sensitizers. Current U.S. law does not require fragrance ingredient disclosure, making "fragrance" or "parfum" one of the most deceptive and potentially harmful entries on any personal care label. The European Union requires disclosure of 26 known fragrance allergens. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has restricted or banned over 100 fragrance chemicals — none of which a consumer can identify when they see only the word "fragrance" on a label.

Synthetic fragrance compounds used to create musky base notes in perfumes and scented body care products. Polycyclic musks (like galaxolide and tonalide) are lipophilic and highly bioaccumulative — they build up in human fat tissue and breast milk over time and have been detected in marine organisms worldwide. Nitromusks, an older class, have been banned or restricted in the EU due to carcinogenicity and neurotoxicity concerns. Both classes have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting properties in laboratory studies.

A petrochemical solvent found primarily in nail products and hair dyes. Toluene is classified as a reproductive toxicant and neurotoxin — it is known to cause neurological damage with repeated inhalation exposure, and has been linked to immune suppression and developmental toxicity in pregnant women. It is banned in cosmetics in the European Union, Canada, and Japan, but permitted in the U.S. The confined spaces in which nail services are performed make inhalation exposure particularly concerning for salon workers with daily chronic exposure.

An antimicrobial agent that was banned by the FDA from over-the-counter hand soaps and body washes in 2016 after manufacturers failed to demonstrate it was safe and more effective than plain soap and water. Despite this ban, it remains permitted in other personal care categories in the U.S. — including toothpaste — and is linked to hormone disruption, skin irritation, and contribution to antibiotic resistance. It is fully banned in cosmetics in the European Union and Canada. The FDA's own safety determination was: "not generally recognized as safe and effective."

Used for antiperspirant properties in deodorants by physically blocking sweat glands. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin at high levels of systemic exposure, and ongoing research investigates whether repeated topical application near lymph nodes — particularly to recently shaved skin, which absorbs more readily — may contribute to systemic aluminum accumulation. Some studies have found elevated aluminum in breast tissue. Research into the connection between aluminum exposure and breast cancer and neurological conditions remains active and has not reached definitive conclusions. We apply the precautionary principle and avoid aluminum compounds in all Everlasting Organics formulations, choosing mineral-based deodorant alternatives instead.

A preservative and antimicrobial agent that is a known skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritant with documented ability to cause contact dermatitis and allergic sensitization with repeated exposure. The FDA banned it from over-the-counter antiseptic hand washes (alongside triclosan) in 2016, citing insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness for that use. It remains permitted in other cosmetic categories and is frequently found in facial cleansers and makeup removers as a preservative.

Used as solvents, humectants, and skin-conditioning agents. While considered low risk in isolation, they function as penetration enhancers — increasing the skin's permeability and potentially driving other ingredients, including harmful ones present in the same formula, more deeply into the body than they would otherwise reach. This is not a hypothetical concern: their use in formulas containing other questionable ingredients effectively amplifies the exposure risk of those co-ingredients. We prefer plant-derived alternatives such as vegetable glycerin wherever skin conditioning is needed.

One of the most dangerous ingredients in personal care products — and one of the most invisible. 1,4-Dioxane is not an intentional ingredient: it is a byproduct of the ethoxylation manufacturing process used to make many surfactants, emulsifiers, and foaming agents more gentle. Because it is a contaminant rather than an added ingredient, it does not appear on any label. The EPA classifies it as a probable human carcinogen. The FDA has documented its presence in many conventional shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and baby products. A 2019 study found 1,4-dioxane in 45 of 61 children's bath products tested. It is particularly insidious because it is undetectable to consumers — even in products labeled "natural" or "gentle" — and there is currently no U.S. regulation requiring its removal from cosmetics.

A synthetic preservative widely used as a paraben alternative — often marketed under the implication that it is safer than parabens. It can irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, and research indicates it may affect the nervous system at higher concentrations. The FDA issued a warning against its use in nipple creams due to its potential to depress the central nervous system in nursing infants. The EU has set concentration limits for its use in cosmetics, and it is generally not permitted in products intended for use on or near babies. Despite a cleaner reputation than parabens, it remains a synthetic chemical preservative with its own documented concerns.

Vitamin A is beneficial in nighttime skincare — but its safety in products used on sun-exposed skin is genuinely debated. A government study by the National Toxicology Program found that retinyl palmitate enhanced the development of skin tumors in UV-exposed mice compared to controls, and an independent NTP panel unanimously confirmed this finding. Germany and Norway have issued cautions about its use in sun-exposed products. The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding it in daytime formulas. However — the American Academy of Dermatology and dermatologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering have reviewed the same data and argue the mouse model is not reliably extrapolable to humans, noting that no published human studies confirm the cancer risk, and that decades of retinoid use in clinical dermatology have not shown increased skin cancer incidence. This is a genuine scientific dispute, not a settled question. We present both sides honestly. Our position: given the absence of definitive human safety data for daytime use, we apply the precautionary principle and avoid retinyl palmitate in any formula intended for sun-exposed skin.

Silicone-based compounds used to create smooth, silky textures in skin and hair products. Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) and cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) are of particular concern — D4 is classified as an endocrine disruptor by the European Chemicals Agency and has been shown to affect reproductive function in animal studies. D5 is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic in aquatic environments. The EU has restricted both D4 and D5 in wash-off products and is considering further restrictions on leave-on formulas. They are among the most environmentally persistent compounds in cosmetic use today.

A soft mineral used for its silky feel and oil-absorbing properties. Talc and asbestos are naturally co-occurring minerals, and when talc is not adequately tested and purified during mining, asbestos contamination can result. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen (IARC Group 1) with no safe level of exposure. Johnson & Johnson paid billions in settlements after asbestos was found in its talcum powder products, and the FDA has found asbestos in multiple cosmetic products in recent years. Contamination is not visible on labels and is entirely dependent on supplier testing standards. We do not use talc in any Everlasting Organics formulation — choosing kaolin clay, arrowroot powder, and other verified alternatives instead.