In total transparency! The Cosmetic Ingredients Blacklist
Our values and promises:
They can be summed up in 3 lines:
- to offer you products that are at least as effective, long-lasting and sensorial as conventional products,
- offer you products that are as affordable as possible,
- to offer you healthy, organic products with a clean, natural composition
Why is it so important to take an interest in the of my cosmetics?
Well, simply because if you know the ingredients, you know EXACTLY what you're putting on your skin, and you're taking care of it!
Today, every day, you're confronted with dozens of brands and products, all claiming to be more "green"orcleanYou're confronted with dozens of brands and products every day, all claiming to be "greener" or "cleaner" than the others, but never detailing their composition or highlighting their labels.
We call it "Greenwashing"!
This method consists in making you believe that the product is organic, or natural, and healthy (with green on the packaging, a leaf here or there...) when, if you decipher the composition, you realize that it' s false, and that it's only marketing!
In short, which ingredients are really harmful & should be avoided?
The list is very long!
And what's more, it's getting longer every day as new studies are carried out...
To make things easier for you, we've put together an initial, non-exhaustive list of blacklisted ingredients to be avoided in cosmetics.
We hope you'll find this list useful, and that it will help you decipher the ingredients to avoid 💪🏼
Aluminum
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Aluminum salts are found in deodorants because they have anti-odour properties and prevent the glands from secreting perspiration.
In what type of product can you find it?
Deodorants and sun creams
Why is it dangerous?
Carcinogenic, toxic and may trigger neurological diseases
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sage and Magnesium
BHA and BHT
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene are antioxidants for fats.
In what type of product can you find it?
Lip balm, shaving gels, deodorants, body oils or lotions, make-up remover and lipstick
Why is it dangerous?
Toxic and carcinogenic for vital organs (lungs, kidneys, liver)
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Natural antioxidant Tocopherol (vitamin E)
Dibutil phthalate
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Plasticizing properties
In what type of product can you find it?
Nail polish
Why is it dangerous?
Clogs skin pores. Carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to the skin, promotes the appearance of imperfections and sebum. Hardly biodegradable and pollutes the environment.
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Polysorb ID 37
Synthetic fragrance
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Adds fragrance to the product
In what type of product can you find it?
All types of products
Why is it dangerous?
Irritant potential
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Natural fragrances
Mineral oils
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Protects skin from dehydration. Effective for cleansing and make-up removal. Improve texture quality
In what type of product can you find it?
Face creams, body creams, night creams, make-up, foundation
Why is it dangerous?
Polluting and comedogenic. Irritating to the skin. Some are petrochemical products
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Vegetable oils (Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, Sunflower oil, Sesame oil)
Formaldehyde releasers
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Curator
In what type of product can you find it?
Nail hardeners
Why is it dangerous?
Gradually releases small quantities of formalin (an irritant and suspected carcinogen)
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Does not exist
Methylisothiazolinone
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Preservative used to replace parabens.
In what type of product can you find it?
Shampoos, shower gels, skin creams, baby wipes...Completely banned in non-rinse products
Why is it dangerous?
Irritant and may cause contact eczema
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Organic preservatives: e.g. sodium benzoate.
Parabens
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Preservatives: prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the product.
In what type of product can you find it?
Self-tanners, deodorants, oral care products, hair care products, baby care products, make-up, skin care products, nail polish...
Why is it dangerous?
Endocrine disruptors: can cause physiological problems
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sodium benzoate, Dehydroacetic acid
Phenoxyethanol
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Preservative: prevents the proliferation of bacteria in the product
In what type of product can you find it?
Baby products
Why is it dangerous?
Irritant potential
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sodium benzoate or dehydroacetic acid
Propylene Glycol
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
It is a solvent that retains moisture in a formula and creates a smooth, uniform and homogeneous product.
In what type of product can you find it?
Face creams, hair dyes, intimate wipes, mouthwashes, scented mists
Why is it dangerous?
Derived from petrochemicals. May present an environmental hazard
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Végétol
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
It has cleansing, purifying and foaming properties. It is produced by ethoxylation (addition of alcohols and phenols to ethylene oxide), a process prohibited in organic farming!
In what type of product can you find it?
Rinse-off cosmetics (shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants, creams, make-up, etc.)
Why is it dangerous?
Clogs pores, promotes the appearance of imperfections and sebum. Hardly biodegradable and pollutes the environment
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS)
Triclosan
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Antibacterial
In what type of product can you find it?
Hygiene and beauty products such as soap, toothpaste and deodorants
Why is it dangerous?
Endocrine disruptor acting on estrogen hormones and thyroid function
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid
Artificial colorants
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Used to tint products to the desired color
In what type of product can you find it?
Lipstick, foundation, blush, mascara, varnish, pencil etc...
Why is it dangerous?
Carcinogenic, allergenic and photosensitizing risks
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Natural plant dyes (usually starting with CI-77 in an INCI list) and Magnesium
Chlorphenesine
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
It is an antimicrobial preservative.
In what type of product can you find it?
Anti-aging eye creams, masks, concealers...
Why is it dangerous?
Chlorine derivative. Highly polluting manufacturing process
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sodium benzoate or dehydroacetic acid
EDTA
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Helps stabilize cosmetic formulas
In what type of product can you find it?
Shampoos and shower gels
Why is it dangerous?
Pollutes the environment and aquatic environments. Irritating to eyes, may cause eczema.
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Citric acid, phytic acid
Palm oil
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
It has emollient properties, softening and smoothing the skin.
In what type of product can you find it?
Moisturizers, make-up removers, body, hair or face oils,
Why is it dangerous?
Leads to deforestation and threatens the extinction of certain animal species
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Aloe Vera, Sunflower oil, Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, Sesame oil
Hydroquinone
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Reduces or inhibits product odor and improves product stability and shelf life. It is also a lightening and antioxidant agent.
In what type of product can you find it?
Nail polish and hair color
Why is it dangerous?
Risks of skin allergies, carcinogens and toxicity to marine fauna
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Licorice extract and ascorbic acid
Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium, antimony, iron, copper, cobalt...)
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
They are used in pigments and colorants for certain products.
In what type of product can you find it?
Lipsticks
Why is it dangerous?
Carcinogenic risks
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Does not exist
GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Substitute for natural plants that grow faster, easier and in greater quantities
In what type of product can you find it?
All cosmetics
Why is it dangerous?
Clogs pores, promotes the appearance of imperfections and sebum. Hardly biodegradable and pollutes the environment
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Organic cosmetics
PEG
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Thickener, emulsifier, surfactant or humectant
In what type of product can you find it?
Cosmetics or shampoos
Why is it dangerous?
Petroleum derivatives. Suspected carcinogens. Very low biodegradability. Pollutant
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Butter, gum, wax and/or oil of vegetable origin
Phthalates
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Fixing agents and plasticizers
In what type of product can you find it?
Perfumes, varnishes, cosmetics packaging
Why is it dangerous?
Suspected endocrine disruptors: may cause physiological problems
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Polysorb ID 37, 100% bio-sourced plasticizer
Silicone
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Provides a sensorial, smoothing action on the skin. They blur pores.
In what type of product can you find it?
Rinse-off cosmetics (shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants, creams, make-up, etc.)
Why is it dangerous?
Clogs pores, promotes the appearance of imperfections and sebum. Hardly biodegradable and pollutes the environment
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Lipolami and a synergy of butters and vegetable oils
Sulfate
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Surfactant. Foaming agent
In what type of product can you find it?
Foaming cleansing cosmetics (shower gels, shampoos, exfoliants, facial cleansing gels...)
Why is it dangerous?
Clogs pores, promotes the appearance of imperfections and sebum. Hardly biodegradable and pollutes the environment
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS)
Triethanolamine
Interest in skin/texture or formula:
Adds texture by thickening cosmetic formulas
In what type of product can you find it?
Styling gel, shaving gel, shaving foam
Why is it dangerous?
Toxic to the skin, immune system and respiratory tract
Organic equivalent :
👉🏼 Does not exist