Table 1.
Common harmful ingredients in beauty products and associated health risks.
| Chemical name | Common products | Health effects/hazards | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preservatives | |||
| Methylisothiazolinone | Shampoos, lotions, conditioners | Skin irritation, contact dermatitis, allergies | (163) |
| Methylchloroisothiazolinone | Haircare products, soaps | Skin irritation, contact dermatitis, allergies | (164) |
| Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) | Lip products, moisturizers | Skin irritation, endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity | (21) |
| Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) | Skin creams, lipsticks | Skin irritation, endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity | (165) |
| Formaldehyde-releasing Preservatives | Hair products, nail polish | Skin irritation, carcinogenicity concerns | (166) |
| Imidazolidinyl Urea | Various cosmetics | Skin irritation, formaldehyde release | (167) |
| Diazolidinyl Urea | Skin creams, lotions | Skin irritation, formaldehyde release | (168) |
| Sunscreen Chemicals | Sunscreens | Skin allergies, hormone disruption (e.g., Oxybenzone) | (88) |
| Parabens (e.g., Methylparaben) | Various cosmetics | Hormone disruption, breast cancer concerns | (169) |
| Propylparaben | Lotions, deodorants | Skin irritation, hormone disruption, allergies | (170) |
| Plasticizers | |||
| Phthalates (e.g., Dibutyl Phthalate) | Nail polish, fragrances | Hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity | (15) |
| Diethyl Phthalate | Fragrances | Hormone disruption, allergies | (171) |
| Heavy metals | |||
| Lead (in certain color additives) | Lipsticks, hair dyes | Neurological damage, reproductive issues | (172) |
| Mercury (in some skin-lightening products) | Skin creams | Neurological damage, kidney and lung toxicity | (173) |
| Coal tar dyes | |||
| Coal tar (found in some hair dyes) | Hair dyes | Carcinogenicity, skin irritation | (174) |
| Fragrance | Various cosmetics, perfumes | Allergies, skin irritation, respiratory issues | (171) |
| Triclosan | Antibacterial soaps, toothpaste | Hormone disruption, antibiotic resistance | (175) |
| Talc | Powders, eyeshadows, blushes | Lung problems (when inhaled as dust), ovarian cancer risk | (176) |
| Mineral oils | Lotions, creams | Skin irritation, clogged pores, long-term skin issues | (177) |
| Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA) | Shampoos, body washes | Skin irritation, allergies, carcinogenicity (DEA) | (124) |
| Microplastics | Exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste | Environmental harm, potential ingestion and absorption | (178) |
| Nanoparticles | Various cosmetics | Potential skin penetration, long-term health effects | (179) |
| Hydroquinone | Skin lightening products | Skin irritation, ochronosis (skin darkening) | (180) |
| Oxybenzone | Sunscreens | Hormone disruption, potential allergies | (181) |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) | Shampoos, body washes | Skin and eye irritation, allergies | (182) |
| Toluene | Nail polish, hair dyes | Nervous system damage, developmental issues | (183) |
| Resorcinol | Hair dyes, acne treatments | Skin irritation, allergies, thyroid dysfunction | (184) |
| Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) | Lotions, creams, cleansers | Skin irritation, allergies, potential contaminants | (185) |
| Formaldehyde | Nail products, hair straighteners | Skin and respiratory irritation, carcinogenicity | (186) |
| Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) | Anti-aging creams | Skin irritation, photosensitivity, potential carcinogenicity | (187) |
| Artificial fragrance chemicals | Various cosmetics | Allergies, skin irritation, respiratory issues | (171) |
| Ammonia | Hair dyes, hair color products | Eye and lung irritation, potential allergies | (188) |
This table provides a list of various harmful ingredients commonly found in beauty products.