THE NO-NO LIST

We carefully screen every product and ingredient to ensure they meet our standards. While our no-no list is extensive, it’s not exhaustive—there are tens of thousands of chemicals in use today so we actually avoid more than what is listed here. This list, focused on the most common toxic ingredients, gives you insight into our strict standards. We also have a caution list for ingredients that have some nuance or are difficult to avoid entirely and should be limited. For a more comprehensive understanding, download our Toxic Ingredient Library and check out our free guides.

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INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

    • 1,2-Hexanediol
    • 1,4-Dioxane (a contaminant)
    • Aluminum Chlorohydrate
    • Artificial Flavor
    • Artificial Food Colors avoid them all, but especially: Red 40, Allura Red, Yellow 5, Tartrazine, Yellow 6, Sunset Yellow, Blue 1, Brilliant Blue, Blue 2, Indigo Carmine
    • Artificial Sweeteners, Acesulfame potassium, Aspartame, Neotame, Sucralose, Saccharin
    • Benzalkonium Chloride
    • Butane, Isobutane
    • Butyl Glycol, Butoxyethanol
    • Butylene Glycol
    • Chemical Sunscreen Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone
    • Cocamidopropyl Betaine / Hydroxysultaine
    • DEAs, Diethanolomine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA
    • Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (DDBSA)
    • EDTAs
    • Ethoxylated Ingredients (many sulfates or ingredients ending in -eth or chloride are ethoxylated)
    • Ethylene oxide (a contaminant)
    • Fluoride
    • Formaldehyde and its releasers: 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Bronopol, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Formalin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methanal, Methenamine, Methylene Glycol, Polyoxymethylene Urea, Quaternium-15, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
    • Fragrance, Much like "natural flavor" in food, fragrance is poorly regulated, which makes it another mystery ingredient. The formula is usually protected as a "trade secret." The 3,500+ chemicals used in fragrance are not subject to pre-market safety assessments. They can emit VOCs and contribute to brain fog, dizziness and respiratory problems. It is usually neurotoxic and in some cases has been linked to carcinogens. Some ingredients eventually get banned in some countries, but thousands remain a mystery. Might also appear under parfum, perfume, aroma, or scent on a product label.
    • Gums in food (Xanthan, Guar, Carrageenan)
    • Grapefruit Seed Extract (contains hidden synthetic preservatives)
    • High-fructose corn syrup
    • Hydrogenated Castor Oil
    • Hydroquinone
    • Isohexadecane
    • Lake dyes
    • Methylisothiazolinone and other -isothiazolinones
    • MSG or Monosodium Glutamate sometimes listed as:Glutamic acid, Monosodium salt, L-glutamic acid, Monosodium L-glutamate, Sodium glutamate, Also hidden in "Natural Flavor"
    • Nanoparticles
    • Natural Flavor White it may sound innocent, it is not. Natural Flavor is not well regulated and "natural" is misleading because they are allowed to contain synthetic chemicals. They can also be derived from common allergens like dairy, nuts or gluten making it quite the mystery ingredient! Natural Flavors are often highly processed, including the use of solvents, fermentation and more. You may choose to make an exception for Organic Natural Flavors, which do have much stricter guidelines.
    • Parabens under many names, ends in paraben
    • Petroleum Products, Mineral Oil might appear under: Paraffinum liquidum, Petrolatum, Paraffin oil, Liquid paraffin, White mineral oil, White oil, Liquid petroleum, Petroleum distillates,C15-19 alkane, Microcrystalline wax
    • PEGs (Polyethylene glycol) and PPGs Ceteareth, PEG, Polyethylene oxide (PEO), Polyoxyethylene, Carbowax (a trademark name for PEG), Macrogol (used in Europe as the generic name for PEG), Polyglycol, Glycol polyethylene, Polyethylene oxide, Polyoxymethylene, Triceteareth
    • Phenoxyethanol
    • Phthalates under many names, but always ends in phthalates; usually appears as an acronym: (DEP) (DBP) (DEHP) (BBP) (DINP) (DIDP) (DnOP) (DMP)
    • Polysorbates
    • Potassium Bromate
    • Preservatives (food, some) the worst offenders: Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Propyl Paraben, Sulfites (or Sulfur Dioxide), Sodium Benzoate when listed with citric acid or ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Nitrate, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)
    • Propylene Glycol
    • Quats like behentrimonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, diphenol hydroxybenzene, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, quaternium-15, polyquaternium-7; TIP: if it ends in chloride or contains “quat” in the name, check if it’s a quaternary ammonium compound.
    • Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate when used in the sun
    • Seed Oils, Industrial, Canola, Corn, Cottonseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Safflower, Grapeseed
    • *we make exceptions for organic, pressed seed oils such as Organic Sunflower oil which do not use solvents and chemicals
    • Siloxanes/Silicones often ends in “siloxane” “-cone”, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Siloxanes
    • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) might appear under: Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium salt sulfuric acid, Monododecyl ester, Sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, Sodium salt of lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium salt of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate
    • Sodium polyacrylate
    • Talc
    • Titanium Dioxide (in powder form)
    • Tocopheryl Acetate
    • Triclosan may also appear as 2,4,4’-triclor’-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 5-Chlor-2-(2,4-diclorophenoxyl) phenol
    • CH-3635, Irgasan CH3635, Irgasan DP 300, Ster-Zac, Lexol 300, Microban
    • Trisodium Phosphate
    • Trans Fats, Hydrogenated oils, Partially hydrogenated oils
Links to medical studies

CAUTION LIST

    • Citric acid (okay if non-GMO or purity tested)
    • Potassium Sorbate (avoid in food, some exceptions for hair use, not much known about dermal absorption)
    • Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)
    • Sodium Benzoate (avoid in food, some exceptions for topical use)