Transitioning all of your personal care products to greener, cleaner options can be an overwhelming task. Especially, when terms like 'natural', 'green',  and 'naturally derived' don't have a legal definition. On top of that, lots of companies often greenwash their marketing efforts - shifting your focus from what you're buying to something in the periphery - intentionally misleading you.  Here are the top 6 ingredients to avoid when buying new products. You may also want to clear out any products currently in your cabinets that contain them. 

1. Synthetic fragrance

AKA: Fragrance and Fragrance Blend, Parfum/perfume, Flavor

WHAT IT IS:

Engineered scents or flavoring agents can contain any combination of 3,000-plus stock chemical ingredients and because they are listed as “trade secrets” these ingredient can remain undisclosed. Meaning we have no idea what's being using or if nicer-smelling synthetic fragrances may be used to mask the toxic smell of other chemicals found within the product.

WHY TO AVOID: 

Synthetic fragrances and flavors can cause hormone disruption, trigger trigger allergies, migraines and asthma attacks, severe skin and respiratory irritation, birth defects, and is a potential carcinogen (which means it could cause cancer), and is a neurotoxin. Yikes!

WHERE IT'S COMMONLY FOUND:

All types of cosmetics, hair products, face and body products.

2. Parabens

Aka:methylparaben, isobutylparaben, propyparaben, and others)

WHAT IT IS:

Parabens are a class of preservatives added to substances to delay the decomposition of the product from mold or bacteria.

WHY TO AVOID: 

Parabens are endocrine (hormone) disruptors (which may alter important hormone mechanisms in our bodies), potential carcinogens, can cause developmental, reproductive and immune toxicity, and is an allergy trigger.

WHERE IT'S COMMONLY FOUND:

All types of hair products; shampoo, face cleanser, body wash, body lotion, foundation. 

3. Mercury

aka: Thimerosal and mercury compounds

WHAT IT IS: 

A heavy metal (think old thermometers) that's used as a perservative. 

WHY TO AVOID: 

Using too many products containing heavy metals can cause nervous system damage (AKA: Neurotoxcity), and like parabens, they’ve also been linked to organ and developmental toxicity.

WHere it's commonly found:

Mascara, Eyeliner

4. HYDROQUINONE

WHAT IT IS: 

This is a skin-lightening/skin-bleaching chemical that reduces the production of melanin or hyper-pigmentation.

WHY TO AVOID: 

Hydroquinone increases the risk of skin cancer, by removing the skin’s natural defense against the sun—its ability to tan. It's use is linked to cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritation.

WHERE IT'S COMMONLY FOUND:

Skin bleaching products, Cleansers, Moisturizers

5. Aluminum Compounds

(excluding coloring agents)

WHAT IT IS:  

Metallic element that blocks the sweat ducts, preventing sweat from reaching the skin’s surface.

WHY TO AVOID: 

Aluminum compounds are know to cause neurotoxicity, are a potential carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, and are suspected to bioaccumulate within organs, as well as cause skin and organ irritation.

WHERE IT'S COMMONLY FOUND:

Antiperspirant

6. SULFATES

(AKA: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)

WHY TO AVOID: 

Sulfates can trigger allergies, cause skin and eye irritation, and there has been known contamination with 1,4 –dioxane, a likely carcinogen that’s also associated with organ toxicity and birth defects.

WHAT IT IS:

By-product of a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh. It's used as an anti-static, a skin conditioner, and absorption enhancer. 

WHERE IT'S COMMONLY FOUND:

Found in product that lather; hand soap, shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, face cleansers, some exfoliators.