Ingredients To Avoid

Learn the top toxic ingredients to avoid in skincare, body care, and household products. Discover what they are, why they matter, and safer toxin-free alternatives for a healthier lifestyle.

How to Use This List Effectively

• Scan labels quickly → Many of these ingredients hide under long chemical names or “fragrance/parfum.” Having this list bookmarked makes it easy to cross-check.

• Focus on families of chemicals → A lot of these are quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”) or ethoxylated compounds. If you learn to spot the patterns (like names ending in -ium chloride or anything with “ethoxylated”), you’ll catch dozens of variations at once.

• Pair with trusted databases → Use tools like the EWG Skin Deep Database, SafeCosmetics.org, and NIH ToxNet to double-check the latest safety ratings.

• Look for third-party certifications → MADE SAFE, USDA Organic, or EWG Verified seals help ensure the product has skipped the worst offenders.

☆ INGREDIENTS TO AVOID / TO CHECK INTO FURTHER FOR CONTAMINATIONS

*Some great resources for ingredients ~ safecosmetics.org , epa.gov , ewg.org , nih.gov

⭐️ THE TOXIC 20 AND HOW TO DITCH THEM

ALPHABETICAL ORDER :

• Acriflavine Hydrochloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound (source)

• Alpha-Isomethyl-ionone ~ EWG Rating 3, known human toxicant/allergen

• Aroma | Fragrance | Parfum - Undisclosed, potentially harmful ingredients

• Basil Essential Oil & Basil Extract ~ Strong evidence human carcinogen

• Behentrimonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Behentrimonium Methosulfate ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Benzalkonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Benzethonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Benzisothiazolinone ~ EWG Rating 6, Classified as toxic / harmful

• Benzoxonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound (source)

• Benzyltrimethylammonium Fluoride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Benzyltrimethylammonium Hydroxide ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• BTMS-25 / BTMS-50 ~ behentrimonium methosulfate ~ Associated with endocrine disruption

• Butylene glycol ~ petroleum derived

• Carrageenan ~ Consumption increases risk for certain cancers. Suggests negative effects in GI tract, potentially contributing to IBD & colitis (source)

• Cetalkonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound (source)

• Cetrimonium Bromide ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Cetrimonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Cetylpyridinum Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Citric Acid (some types) ~ Possibly derived from black mold

• Chlormequat Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Chlorphenesin ~ skin irritant / allergen, reproductive toxin & immunosuppressive.

• Cocamide DEA ~ EWG Rating 8, Possible Human Carcinogen, Contamination Concerns : Nitrosamines

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine ~ Contamination Concerns : 3-Dimethylaminopropylamine, Nitrosamines, Cocamidopropyl dimethylamine

• Cocamidopropyl dimethylamine ~ Contamination Concern : 3-Dimethylaminopropylamine

• Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine ~ Contamination Concern : nitrosamines & 3-Dimethylaminopropylamine

• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein ~ quaternary ammonium chloride, Contamination Concern : pesticides

• Dialkyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound, Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity

• Diethyl Ester Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) ~ Linked to DNA damage

• Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate ~ ethoxylated compound, Contamination concerns : ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane (source)

• Distearyldimethylammonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic ~ linked to skin issues + hazard to reproductive health.

• Ethoxylated Compound ~ they can be contaminated with ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen,[4] and 1,4- dioxane

• Ethylene Oxide ~ High Cancer Concerns, rated 10 by EWG

• Fragrance - Undisclosed, potentially harmful ingredients

• Gaur Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Grapefruit Seed Extract ~ Contamination Concerns : Dioxins, Chloroform, Triclosan, Methylparaben, Benzethonium chloride

• Hydrogenated Polydecene ~ Reproductive toxin

• Hydroxyethylcellulose ~ Ethoxylated compound

• Hydroquinone ~ linked to cancer and organ-system toxicity.

• Lake dyes / Red dye #6, #7, #27 / Ci 15850 ~ Contamination Concern : Aniline, Cadmium

• Limonene ~ EWG Rating 4-5, Contamination Concern : Formaldehyde

• Linalool ~ EWG Rating 3-4, Contamination Concern : Formaldehyde

• Methylchloroisothiazolinone ~ Possible mutagen EWG Rating 6

• Methyl salicylate ~. EWG score 5-8 known human toxicant

• Mineral Oil ~ Obtained From Petroleum (source)

• Optiphen Plus ~ contains phenoxyethanol

• Ozokerite ~ Possibly Obtained From Petroleum

• Paraffin ~ Obtained From Petroleum

• Petroleum Jelly ~ High amounts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).

• Phenoxyethanol ~ Classified toxic / harmful

• Polyquaternium, -7, -10 ~ Quaternary ammonium compound

• Polysorbate 20 ~ Contamination Concerns : 1,4-Dioxane , Ethylene Oxide

• Polysorbate 80 ~ Contamination Concerns : 1,4-Dioxane , Ethylene Oxide

• Potassium Oleate ~ hazardous substance according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200, can be irritating to eyes, respiratory system, and skin.

• Potassium Sorbate ~ Genotoxic to human lymphocytes

• Quaternium-15 & 13 ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Sodium acrylates copolymer ~ Contamination Concerns : 1,4 dioxane, benzene, acrylic acid, methyl acrylic acid, ethylene oxide

• Sodium Benzoate ~ Benzene Concern when paired with vitamin c / citric acid (source)

• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate ~ Ethoxylated Compound (source) (source)

• Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate ~ Contamination Concern : nitrosamines

• Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate ~ Strong evidence human toxicant

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) ~ Contamination Concerns : ethylene oxide or 1,4-dioxane

• Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate ~ EWG rating 2-5 concern of reproductive toxicity

• Stearalkonium Chloride ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Stearamidolropyl Dimethylamine ~ High Contamination Concerns : nitrosamines, 3-dimethylaminopropylamine

• Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide ~ quaternary ammonium compound

• Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate ~ Contamination Concerns : Acetic Acid, nitrilotri-, trisodium salt, nitrilotriaceric acid, sodium glycolate

• Titanium dioxide ~ Possible human carcinogen (if inhaled)

• Tocopheryl acetate ~ Contamination Concern : Hydroquinone

• Trethanolamine ~ Contamination Concern : nitrosamines, Skin irritant/allergen, respiratory toxicant, can be organ/reproductive toxicant

• Vanillin ~ EWG Rating 3, Known human toxicant or allergen

• Wintergreen Essential Oil ~ contains methyl salicylate

• 1,4-Dioxane ~ Health Concerns : Cancer, Irritation of the lungs, Harm to the kidney

• 3-Dimethylaminopropylamine ~ Classified as toxic / harmful

Extra Ingredients to Watch

• Phthalates → Often hidden under “fragrance.” Linked to hormone disruption.

• Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-) → Preservatives with hormone-disrupting concerns.

• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (like DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea) → Slow-release formaldehyde into products.

• Triclosan & Triclocarban → Once common in antibacterial soaps, now linked to resistance and toxicity.

• Synthetic dyes (FD&C, D&C colors) → Can contain heavy metal contaminants.

Helpful Tips for Ditching the Toxic 20 🚫

• Start with your daily use items → deodorant, lotion, shampoo, and toothpaste. The products you use every day make the biggest difference.

• Less is more → Choose products with short, simple ingredient lists. The fewer fillers, the fewer risks.

• DIY swaps → Many toxin-free swaps can be made at home with pantry staples like coconut oil, baking soda, shea butter, and essential oils.

• Go fragrance-free or essential oil-based → “Fragrance” is one of the biggest red flags because it hides dozens of undisclosed chemicals.