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List of harmful ingredients in soaps, skin care and home care products

FinGoose team 0 Comment December 27, 2018

This list was made possible thanks to more expert concerned people and associations like ewg.org.

I’m not a chemist but my life greatly improved once I stopped using common products with chemicals bought in supermarkets and even sometimes found in health shops.

The ingredients found below are from a non-exhaustive list. More harmful chemicals exist. Please visit ewg.org website or any other experts to check any ingredient that you want to check.

Examples of common soaps containing harmful or potentially harmful chemicals

HARMFUL INGREDIENT NAME	SYNONYM NAMES	MAY BE CONTAINED IN	DESCRIPTION
1,4 Dioxane	1,4-DIETHYLENE DIOXIDE; 1,4-DIOXACYCLOHEXANE; DI (ETHYLENE OXIDE) ; DIETHYLENE DIOXIDE; DIETHYLENE DIOXIDE (OSHA) ; DIETHYLENE ETHER; DIOKAN; DIOKSAN (POLISH) ; DIOSSANO-1,4 (ITALIAN) ; DIOXAAN-1,4 (DUTCH) ; DIOXAN	POLYSORBATE-20, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, POLYSORBATE-60 , CETYL PEG/ PPG-10/ 1 DIMETHICONE , CETEARETH-20 , LAURETH-7, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PEG/ PPG-18/ 18 DIMETHICONE , POLYSORBATE-80 and petroleum-based ingredients	1,4 Dioxane is a contaminant found in most cosmetics and products meant for personal care. It has a high hazard rating of 8 in EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. It is also listed as a carcinerogen
Petrolatum			Petrolatum (mineral oil jelly) is used as a barrier to lock moisture in the skin. A petroleum product, petrolatum can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs — including skin contact over extended periods of time — is associated with cancer. i On this basis, the European Union classifies petrolatum a carcinogen ii and restricts its use in cosmetics. PAHs in petrolatum can also cause skin irritation and allergies.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)	Sodium Laureth Sulfate		This surfactant can be found in more than 90% of personal care and cleaning products. It is known to be irritant to the skin, lung, and eye. SLS is in California’s Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens. It can provoke irritations and allergic reactions
Fragrance	Perfume		This term was created to protect a company's secret formula. The word "fragrance" or "parfum" on the product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients used as fragrance dispersants such as diethyl phthalate. Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.
Parabens	METHYLPARABEN 4-HYDROXY- METHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, METHYL ESTER // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, METHYL ESTER, POTASSIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER, POTASSIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, METHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, METHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, METHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // METHYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // METHYL ESTER 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // METHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- PROPYLPARABEN 4-HYDROXY- PROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, PROPYL ESTER // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, PROPYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, PROPYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // POLYPARABEN // POTASSIUM PROPYLPARABEN // POTASSIUM SALT PROPYLPARABEN // PROPYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE - ETHYLPARABEN 4-HYDROXY- ETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, ETHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, ETHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, ETHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, ETHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // ETHYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // ETHYL ESTER 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // ETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- // ETHYL ESTER SODIUM SALT 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID - BUTYLPARABEN 4-HYDROXY- BUTYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, BUTYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, BUTYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, BUTYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, BUTYL ESTER // BUTYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // BUTYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- // BUTYL ESTER SODIUM SALT 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // BUTYL ESTER SODIUM SALT BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- // BUTYL P-HYDROXY BENZOATE // BUTYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE - ISOBUTYLPARABEN 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- // 4-HYDROXY- 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, 2-METHYLPROPYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, 2METHYLPROPYL ESTER // ISOBUTYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // ISOBUTYL ESTER PARAHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // ISOBUTYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE // ISOBUTYL PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE // PARAHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, ISOBUTYL ESTER - ISOPROPYLPARABEN 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID // 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY- // 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER SODIUM SALT BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY // 1-METHYLETHYL-4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // 4-HYDROXY- 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER BENZOIC ACID // 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY, 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT // BENZOIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-, 1-METHYLETHYL ESTER // BENZOIC ACID, 4HYDROXY, 1METHYLETHYL ESTER // ISOPROPYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE // ISOPROPYL ESTER PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE		Parabens are used as preservatives. They are associated with increased risk of breast cancer.
Sodium Benzoate			Sodium benzoate is a preservative that may be contributing to hyperactivity in children
Propylene Glycol, Propylene Oxide, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)			They are known carcinogen. They weakens skin cells and are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity
Synthetic colors	F_ _ (FD&C or D&C)		Synthetic colors are suspected to be a human carcinogen, a skin irritant and are linked to ADHD in children
TETRASODIUM EDTA	EDETATE SODIUM; ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID TETRASODIUM SALT; GLYCINE, N,N 1,2ETHANEDIYLBIS [N (CARBOXYMETHYL) , TETRASODIUM SALT; GLYCINE, N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) -, TETRASODIUM SALT; N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYL BIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) GLYCINE, TETRASODIUM SALT; N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) - TETRASODIUM SALT GLYCINE; N,N'-1,2-ETHANEDIYLBIS [N- (CARBOXYMETHYL) GLYCINE] , TETRASODIUM SALT; SODIUM EDETATE; TETRASODIUM EDE TATE TETRAHYDRATE; TETRASODIUM EDETATE; TETRASODIUM EDETATE DIHYDRATE		EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent, used to sequester and decrease the reactivity of metal ions that may be present in a product. HIGH concerns: Occupational hazards; Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Methylisothiazolinone & Methylchloroisothiazolinone			Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are preservatives used to inhibit bacteria growth in lots of personal care products including hand soaps. Some of the health risks associated with these preservatives include skin irritation, lung and respiratory issues and neurotoxicity.
Cocamidopropyl betaine			Cocamidopropyl betaine is a synthetic detergent and surfactant that is used to increase the foaming action of cleansing products. Provokes allergic skin reaction, contact dermatitis and environmental toxicity.
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA)			DEA and TEA are also emulsifiers and foam agents. It linked with cancer through tests on animals
Formaldehyde	Methylene glycol Formalin Methylene oxide Paraform Formic aldehyde Methanal Oxomethane Oxymethylene Timonacic acid Thiazolidinecarboxylic acid		Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen
Triclosan			This chemical is most often found in antibacterial soap. It creates dioxin, a carcinogen that has been found in high levels in human breast milk. Dioxins have disruptive effects on the endocrine system and negatively affect thyroid functions
Diethanolamine (DEA)			The chemical can cause liver and kidney cancer
PEG-6			PEG-6 as been linked to breast cancer
Titanium dioxide			Some studies demonstrate the potential for harm of titanium dioxide