degeneration in animals- Sodium Methylparaben: endocrine disruptor; causes mild brain damage in animals; skin
irritant causing itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering; causes depigmentation of skin;
banned for use in European Union - Sodium Monofluorophosphate: nervous system toxin; harmful if swallowed during teeth
bleaching; causes convulsions, proteinuria, osteoporosis, and changes in DNA in animals;
restricted in Canada - Talc: even when it contains no asbestos, was proven fibrogenic (causes tissue injury and
fibrosis); skin and lung irritation - Teflon: causes toxic pneumonitis and skin cancer in animals; not studied for safety in humans
- Tetrasodium EDTA: contains formaldehyde; cytotoxic and genotoxic in animals; strong skin
and lung irritant in humans; most widespread poison to waterways - Thimerosal (Thiomersal, Merthiolate): strong toxin to skin, nervous, and immune system;
mercury is linked to autism; causes cancer in animals; environmental toxin - Thioglycolic Acid: strong human skin irritant; causes itching, burning, scaling, hives, and
blistering of skin; lung allergen; restricted in cosmetics; banned in Canada
9 6. Toluene (Methylbenzene): skin and lung toxicant; accumulates in fat tissue; soil
contaminant - Triclosan: endocrine disruptor, affects thyroid hormone–associated gene expression, caused
fetal death in animals; strong skin irritant; environmental toxicant - Triethanolamine (TEA): causes lymphoid, kidney; and renal tumors in animals; may be
contaminated with carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane; skin and eye irritant even when used in low doses - Triphenyl Phosphate: human neurotoxin; skin, eye, and lung irritant; causes tremors,
depression, and diarrhea in animals - Xanthene (AKA106, CI 45100): found unsafe for use in cosmetics in the US; causes
cancer and various organ mutations in animals
And the list can go on and on. This is not a complete list of all harmful and toxic chemicals found
in beauty products. Last time I counted, a popular hair highlighting kit contained forty chemicals that
are linked to various health disorders even at low doses. However, these are some of the most
common staples of junk beauty products. Try to avoid them at all costs.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); European Union: Classification & Labelling;
Health Canada: List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients; EPA Water Quality Standards Database; EPA Hazardous Air
Pollutants; National Library of Medicine; CHE Toxicant and Disease Database; Scorecard.org Toxicity Information; U.S. Association of
Occupational and Environmental Clinics; International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)