Sampling Of Our No-No List
This no-no list below gives you insight into our strict standards. But remember, ingredients have nuance. Toxicity depends on dosage, route of exposure and individual biology.
While our shop is incredibly conservative, we champion for people to set their own standards to avoid overwhelm. Our free Ingredient Library is a great place to start to build your own!
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- 1,4-Dioxane (a contaminant)
- Aluminum Chlorohydrate
- Artificial Flavor
- Artificial Food Colors avoid them all, but especially: Red 40, Allura Red, Yellow 5, Tartrazine, Yellow 6, Sunset Yellow, Blue 1, Brilliant Blue, Blue 2, Indigo Carmine
- Artificial Sweeteners, Acesulfame potassium, Aspartame, Neotame, Sucralose, Saccharin
- Benzalkonium Chloride
- BHA & BHT
- Butane, Isobutane
- Butyl Glycol, Butoxyethanol
- Butylene Glycol
- Chemical Sunscreen Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- DEAs, Diethanolomine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA
- Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (DDBSA)
- EDTAs
- Ethoxylated Ingredients (many sulfates or ingredients ending in -eth or chloride are ethoxylated)
- Ethylene oxide (a contaminant)
- Fluoride
- Formaldehyde and its releasers: 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Bronopol, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Formalin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methanal, Methenamine, Methylene Glycol, Polyoxymethylene Urea, Quaternium-15, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Fragrance, Fragrance is poorly regulated and typically protected as a trade secret. The 3,500+ chemicals used in fragrance are not subject to pre-market safety assessments, can emit VOCs, and have been linked to neurotoxicity, respiratory issues, brain fog, and in some cases carcinogens. Might also appear under parfum, perfume, aroma, or scent on a product label.
- Gums in food (most)
- Grapefruit Seed Extract (contains hidden synthetic preservatives)
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Hydroquinone
- Isohexadecane
- Lake dyes
- Lonicera Japonica
- Methylisothiazolinone and other -isothiazolinones
- MSG or Monosodium Glutamate sometimes listed as:Glutamic acid, Monosodium salt, L-glutamic acid, Monosodium L-glutamate, Sodium glutamate, Also hidden in "Natural Flavor"
- Nanoparticles
- Natural Flavor, Natural flavor is loosely regulated and the "natural" label is misleading because synthetics are permitted. It can also be derived from common allergens including dairy, nuts, and gluten. Organic natural flavors operate under stricter guidelines and are allowed.
- Parabens under many names, ends in paraben
- Petroleum Products, Mineral Oil might appear under: Paraffinum liquidum, Petrolatum, Paraffin oil, Liquid paraffin, White mineral oil, White oil, Liquid petroleum, Petroleum distillates,C15-19 alkane, Microcrystalline wax
- PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- PEGs (Polyethylene glycol) and PPGs Ceteareth, PEG, Polyethylene oxide (PEO), Polyoxyethylene, Carbowax (a trademark name for PEG), Macrogol (used in Europe as the generic name for PEG), Polyglycol, Glycol polyethylene, Polyethylene oxide, Polyoxymethylene, Triceteareth
- Phenoxyethanol
- Phthalates under many names, but always ends in phthalates; usually appears as an acronym: (DEP) (DBP) (DEHP) (BBP) (DINP) (DIDP) (DnOP) (DMP)
- Polysorbates
- Potassium Bromate
- Propylene Glycol
- Quats like behentrimonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, diphenol hydroxybenzene, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, quaternium-15, polyquaternium-7; TIP: if it ends in chloride or contains “quat” in the name, check if it’s a quaternary ammonium compound. Check out our DEEP DIVE on quats.
- Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate when used in the sun
- Seed Oils, Industrial, Canola, Corn, Cottonseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Safflower, Grapeseed
- *we make exceptions for organic, pressed seed oils such as Organic Sunflower oil which do not use solvents and chemicals
- Siloxanes/Silicones often ends in “siloxane” “-cone”, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Siloxanes
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) might appear under: Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium salt sulfuric acid, Monododecyl ester, Sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, Sodium salt of lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium salt of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate
- Sodium polyacrylate
- Select Surfactants. We avoid certain surfactants depending on their harshness, environmental impact and impurity concerns. Check out our DEEP DIVE on surfactants
- Talc
- TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)
- Titanium Dioxide (in powder form)
- Tocopheryl Acetate (unless well purified)
- Triclosan may also appear as 2,4,4’-triclor’-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 5-Chlor-2-(2,4-diclorophenoxyl) phenol CH-3635, Irgasan CH3635, Irgasan DP 300, Ster-Zac, Lexol 300, Microban
- Trisodium Phosphate
- Trans Fats, Hydrogenated oils, Partially hydrogenated oils
