Home » Beauty Tips » Health & beauty » Dangerous Ingredients You Should Avoid

Dangerous Ingredients You Should Avoid

Learn what earth-friendly buzz words to look for in your skin care, hair care and makeup ... and which harmful ingredients you should avoid on your beauty product labels

1 of 12

"Pure" and "natural" might be the buzzwords of today's hottest products, but don't believe everything you read, says Stacy Malkan, author of "Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry". In fact, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, because the personal care industry is unregulated, even the word "organic" can be slapped on products chock-full of chemicals that can be dangerous to your health and the environment. But who has the time to read through the laundry list of ingredients on the back of your products? If you do -- great. If not, use this cheat sheet to know what ingredients to avoid, and what ones are the best earth-friendly alternatives.

See Next Page: Look for: Hempseed Oil

By Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff

Rate this story|Avg member rating: 9

CosMedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser

Average Member Rating: 9.3

Buy it for $25.50 - $36.00

Aveda Energizing Composition

Average Member Rating: 8.3

Josie Maran Mascara

Average Member Rating: 7.0

Pangea Organics Facial Mask

Average Member Rating: 8.4

Buy it for $4.00

Hemp Organics Lipstick

Average Member Rating: 8.5

Natural Homemade Beauty Care Tips

Take control over your skin care (and improve your cooking skills) with easy DIY recipes you can make at home

20 Best Earth-Friendly Beauty Products

The hottest skin care, makeup and hair care on every green chick's list

When Beauty Treatments Backfire

We are all suckers for beauty treatments that promise a quick fix to our biggest dilemmas. But are the risks worth it? Find out

So many good things to know!!!

by vfalkow Friday, September 16, 2011 at 08:05PM Report as inappropriate

Great. But if there is list of which products have these that have to avoided would be really great. Also a printable version of avoid and look would be nice too.

by ebbsandtides Friday, May 27, 2011 at 09:34AM Report as inappropriate

Wow, informative and eye opening. Thanks!

by Agrimony Friday, April 22, 2011 at 08:31PM Report as inappropriate

wonderful to know!

by Rawrrr Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 07:53AM Report as inappropriate

This was a really informative article! I'm glad that there are now so many great products on the market that don't have these dangerous ingredients.

by LipglossandSpandex Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 07:57PM Report as inappropriate

Mmm true that. /:

by yckitsmary Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 02:42PM Report as inappropriate

I love argan oil

by LittleBunny Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 01:25PM Report as inappropriate

I really should start paying more attention to what I'm putting ON my body as opposed to just what I put in it. Thanks for the heads up!

by Bon_Bon Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 10:53PM Report as inappropriate

so many products we use everyday are harmful :/

by kenya Sunday, December 26, 2010 at 11:23PM Report as inappropriate

This article has proven to be very valuable....I'm in the business for this reason....A place where humans can get human/healthy producta. Simply DaVene

by DaVene Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 12:29PM Report as inappropriate