Table 1.
Fossil-based active ingredients used in cosmetic formulations associated with health risk
| Active ingredient of concern (Fossil fuel-based) | Uses | Risk | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) | Ability to foam, rinse off, or suspend certain types of ingredients, surfactants, emulsifying agents in household cleaners | Remove moisture from the skin, eyes, skin, and lungs irritant, the possible presence of human carcinogen 1,4 dioxane | (Black et al. 2001; Heetfeld et al. 2020) |
| Synthetic colors—petroleum-based ingredients | Use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, artificial dyes | Contribute to cancer, allergies, hyperactivity in children, and other health issues | (Kim et al. 2021) |
| Phthalates: diethyl, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | Give products a silky feel, allow the fragrance to last longer, aid lotions in penetrating and softening skin | DNA damage in sperm, which can contribute to infertility and miscarriage | (Koniecki et al. 2011) |
| Aluminum | Antiperspirants | Linked to breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis | (SCCS and Rousselle 2015; Kalogria et al. 2019) |
| Microbeads | Chewing gum, toothpaste, facial cleansers, and synthetic textiles | Contaminate our environment, water, and food supply | (Lochhead 2017; Hunt et al. 2020) |
| methyl-, butyl-, and propyl-paraben | Antimicrobial and preservative agents, cost-effective, and easy to use | Endocrine disruption, reduced fertility, and cancer risk | (Evans et al. 2016) |
| Paraffin wax | Easily spreadable, soothe achy joints, used in moisturizing products, skin hydration | Carcinogenic, inhalation of the particle leads to allergy and asthma | (Gomes et al. 2020a) |
| Mineral oil | Moisturize skin, keep skin hydrated, nonallergic | Skin irritant such as rash or burning, inhalation to lungs cause breath shortness/coughing | (Chuberre et al. 2019) |
| Toluene listed as methacide, methylbenzene, phenylmethane, and toluol | Used in nail polish and hair dyes | Most toxic ingredients, developmental damage to the fetus, and blood cancer | (Al-Hajri and Del Bigio 2010; Verma 2012) |
| Triclosan: high-concern ingredient | Antibacterial soaps, deodorants and toothpastes, anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque agent | Hinder muscle function, endocrine disruption, create drug-resistant germs, and colon tumorigenesis | (Dhillon et al. 2015; Lee et al. 2019) |
| Anything with PEG (polyethylene glycol) | Used as cosmetic cream bases, moisture-carriers, thickeners, softeners, penetration enhancers, and surfactants | Often contaminated with ethylene oxide or 1,4-dioxane which are carcinogenic, irritation, and system toxicity | (Fruijtier-Pölloth 2005) |
| Anything with DEA (diethanolamine) or TEA (triethanolamine) |
DEA-emulsifier in shampoos, cleaners, and detergents TEA-fragrance, pH adjuster, and emulsifying agent |
Accumulates in liver and kidney, reduce sperm ability to swim, impaired memory, and brain development in offsprings | (Panchal and Verma 2013)(Gamer et al. 2008) |
| EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) | Stabilizer, preservative, improve the foaming abilities of cleansers, soaps, and body washes | Reproductive toxicity and irritation, weakly mutagenic | (Lanigan et al. 2002a) |
| Any word with propyl—isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, propyl alcohol, and cocamidopropyl betaine | Surfactants, use rinse-off cosmetic products as a foam booster, antistatic agents, and hair-conditioning agents | Dermal irritants, allergies, rosacea, and eczema | (Burnett et al. 2012) |
| Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives | These preservatives are present in a wide range of cosmetics, as well as in cleaning products such as toilet bowl cleaners | Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives continuously release small amounts of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen | (Moennich et al. 2009; Lv et al. 2015) |
| Coal tar dyes: listed as p-phenylenediamine or colors titled “CI” and followed by a 5-digit number | Color additive in lipsticks, used in many hair dyes | These dyes are mixtures of petrochemicals and linked to cancer in humans, brain damage | (FDA 2019) |
| BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) | Synthetic antioxidants, preservatives, stabilizer, and most common in lipsticks and moisturizing creams | Disrupt the endocrine system | (Jayalakshmi and Sharma 1986; Lanigan et al. 2002b) |