Aluminum Salts/Aluminum (Pure Powder)

Aluminum salts — for example, aluminum chlorohydrate — are used to prevent sweating. Research shows that frequent use of products that contain aluminum can cause aluminum to build up in breast tissue.

Can be found in antiperspirant products.

Aminomethyl Propanol

Used as a pH adjuster, aminomethyl propanol is a potential carcinogen and skin allergen.

Can be found in skincare, hand sanitizer, and haircare.

Animal Fats and Musks

Ingredients used in cosmetics for diverse purposes, including to create a certain texture or scent. Can cause skin irritation. In some cases, they're not good for animal welfare or the environment.

Can be found in eye makeup, lipstick, and foundation.

Animal-Derived Stem Cells

Ingredients used to try and promote younger-looking skin. The effects of animal-derived stem cells in personal care products are understudied, but in some cases have caused adverse skin reactions and tumor growth.

Can be found in products that describe themselves as "anti-aging".

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

Antioxidants linked to health concerns including cancer, hormone disruption, and organ toxicity. To learn more, read our blog post about BHA and BHT.

Can be found in lipstick and eyeshadow.

Carrageenan

Used for a variety of purposes, including as an emulsifier and binder. Carrageenan contributes to inflammation in the body.

Can be found in a range of skincare and personal care products as well as some bronzers and highlighters.

Cationic Quats

Polyquaternium compounds — which include but aren’t limited to polyquaternium-7, polyquaternium-10, and polyquaternium-47 — are used as conditioning agents in both skincare and haircare. They can contribute to skin irritation and are suspected to be environmental toxins.

Can be found in creams, lotions, and moisturizers.

Chemical Sunscreens

Used to filter harmful UVA/UVB rays. Chemical sunscreens have been linked to endocrine disruption and environmental harm. They may also contribute to cell damage. Chemical sunscreens include oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, P-phenylenediamine, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and padimate O.

Instead, NakedPoppy allows non-nano mineral sunscreens that are shown in research to effectively protect against the sun. These include zinc and titanium dioxide sunscreens.

Can be found in a variety of makeup and personal care products including lip balms with SPF, moisturizers and foundations with SPF, concealers and other makeup with SPF, nail products, and hair products.

Chlorphenesin

Used as a preservative, chlorphenesin is shown in research to be a common skin irritant and allergen.

Can be found in foundation, moisturizer, concealer, masks, and eyeshadow.

Coal tar

A byproduct of the production of coal gas, coal tar is a thick, dark liquid that’s used as a colorant. It’s thought to contribute to cancer.

Can be found in eyeshadow, lipstick, and bronzer.

Cyclical Silicones

Chemicals that may contribute to endocrine disruption and reproductive issues. They're also harmful to the environment, as they build up in nature over time. Cyclical silicones include cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclohexasiloxane (D6), and cyclomethicone.

Can be found in foundation, eyeliner, lipstick, concealer, and skincare products.

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)

Ingredient used to increase skin elasticity that’s been linked to several skin concerns, including irritation, redness, and swelling.

Can be found in skincare products that describe themselves as “anti-aging.”

Ethanolamines

Clear, colorless thick liquids used to help form emulsions and used as pH adjusters. May contribute to skin and eye irritation, respiratory sensitization, and be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals like nitrosamines. Ethanolamines include monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA).

Can be found in skincare products, mascara, eyeliner, and foundation.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) and Related Compounds

Act as a chelating agent to bind up free metal ions to improve stability of personal care products. Examples include trisodium EDTA, disodium ETA, and tetrasodium EDTA. Although these compounds don't cause serious concerns to human health, they may cause skin and eye irritation and can also harm aquatic life.

Can be found in blush, foundation, and mascara.

Ethoxylated Ingredients

(Except for phenoxyethanol at <1%)

Ethoxylation is a process in which ethylene oxide, a carcinogen, is used to synthesize ingredients. A common byproduct of the process is 1,4-dioxane, also a known carcinogen.

Ethoxylated ingredients include polyethelene glycol (PEG) compounds, polysorbate compounds, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), ammonium laureth sulfate, and more. Ethoxylated chemicals often have the ingredients in -eth.

Ethoxylated ingredients can be purified to remove these contaminants. NakedPoppy works with its brand partners to ensure that any ethoxylated ingredient meets our high standards of purity.

Can be found in a wide range of makeup and skincare products including mascara, eyeliner, and foundation.

Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, doesn't usually appear on ingredient labels but can be created if certain chemicals called "formaldehyde releasers" are used. Formaldehyde releasers include bronopol, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, and more. To learn more, read our blog post about formaldehyde.

Can be found in eyeshadow, eyelash glue, and nail polish.

Hydroquinone

Used to lighten the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation, hydroquinone is the derivative of a known carcinogen and can cause skin irritation.

Can be found in skincare products.

Japanese Honeysuckle

Used as a preservative, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract or Japanese honeysuckle naturally contains a derivative of parahydroxybenzoic acid, a metabolite of paraben esters. It’s thought to disrupt our endocrine systems, like some parabens.

Can be found in blush, masks, moisturizers, eyeshadows, and serums.

Methyl Cellosolve or 2-Methoxyethanol

Used as a solvent. Can cause cell damage, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and developmental problems, as well as skin and eye irritation.

Can be found in creams described as "anti-aging", eyelash extension glue, and remover solvents.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone

Chemicals used as preservatives that can lead to skin/eye irritation, skin sensitization, and may be neurotoxic.

Can be found in moisturizers, cleansers, mascara, and makeup with SPF.

Microplastics

Ingredients used in makeup and skincare, commonly as emulsifiers, gelling agents, or film formers. They include but aren’t limited to microbeads, acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, carbomer, polyacrylamide, polyacrylamide/acrylamide, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene. Microplastics can accumulate in the environment and contribute to environmental harm.

Can be found in all kinds of cosmetic and skincare products.

Mineral Oil and Paraffin

A byproduct of petroleum distillation that can carry carcinogenic impurities. Highly persistent in the environment.

Can be found in a range of cosmetics including lip gloss, lipstick, lip balm, eyeshadow, concealer, and SPF products.

Nanoparticles

Ingredients used to bring down the white cast of mineral sunscreens. They may be harmful to human health and have been shown to hurt the environment. Nanoparticles are between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. Because they're so small, they could get absorbed more easily through the skin.

Can be found in sun care products and certain color cosmetics.

Parabens

Chemicals used as preservatives. Some parabens might contribute to endocrine disruption and cancer. To learn more, read our blog post about parabens.

Can be found in a wide variety of cosmetics.

Per- and Polyfluoalkyl Chemicals (PFAs)

Used to help makeup stay put, give texture, and provide “slip.” Polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), also known as Teflon™, is linked to hormone disruption, as well as developmental and reproductive toxicity.

Can be found in eyeshadow, foundation, and bronzer.

Petrolatum

A petroleum-derived chemical that acts as a barrier on the skin's surface and is often recommended for dry skin. However, petrolatum often isn't refined enough to remove the impurities that make it toxic to human health. Health concerns related to impurities include cancer and adverse developmental outcomes.

Can be found in petroleum jelly, lip balm, lipstick, lip gloss, and eyeshadow.

Phthalates

A group of compounds used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. Includes dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and more. Phthalates have been linked to endocrine disruption, lower IQ scores in children, early onset of puberty in girls, and reduced sperm count in men. They're also harmful to the environment.

Phthalates don't usually appear on the ingredient list but may be part of "fragrance," which can be made up of dozens, if not hundreds, of chemicals. They're commonly used as scent carriers. To learn more, read our blog post about phthalates.

Can be found in a wide range of makeup and skincare products.

Propylene Glycol

A common ingredient used to preserve and retain moisture in personal care products, and to enhance skin absorption. It’s a common skin irritant.

Can be found in foundation, concealer, mascara, moisturizer, lip balms, and cleansers.

Resorcinol/Phenylethyl Resorcinol

A powerful antioxidant that has a high rate of skin absorption. It can be irritating to skin and is thought to disrupt our endocrine systems.

Can be found in skin-lightening products.

Retinyl Palmitate

A derivative of retinol that’s used to boost collagen production in the skin. When applied to the skin in sunlight, retinyl palmitate may speed up the development of skin lesions and tumors.

Can be found in skincare products that describe themselves as “anti-aging.”

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

An ingredient used to create that foaming experience you get when using products like face wash and soap. While SLS likely isn't very harmful to human health or the environment, it's a common skin irritant. To learn more, read our blog post about SLS.

Can be found in products that foam.

Styrene-Based Copolymers

Used to give structure to certain cosmetics and skincare products. Styrene is a known carcinogen so residual styrene monomers may contaminate the raw material used.

Can be found in eyeliner, sunscreen, lotions, serums, and mascara, especially waterproof mascara.

Synthetic Flavor

A group of chemicals, which vary between products, that give cosmetics a flavor. Depending on the ingredients included, synthetic flavor could have a variety of effects including increased risk of cancer and disruption to the endocrine system.

Can be found in lipstick, lip gloss, and other lip products.

Synthetic Fragrance

A group of chemicals, which can vary widely, used to deliver a scent. Fragrance is considered a "trade secret," so companies aren't required to disclose the ingredients in a given synthetic fragrance. There can be hundreds of undisclosed chemicals used to make the fragrance, some of which can be hazardous. To learn more, read our blog post about synthetic fragrance.

Can be found in a wide range of makeup and skincare products.

Talc

A soft mineral that is often used as an absorbent in cosmetics. While the main concern with talc is due to its potential contamination with asbestos, there are studies suggesting a potential link between talc and cervical cancer.

Used in powdered products.

Triclosan and Triclocarban

Antimicrobial chemicals often used as preservatives in soaps, toothpaste, and other personal care products. Have been linked to health issues including organ toxicity, skin and eye irritation, reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption. They're also toxic to aquatic life and persistent in the environment. NakedPoppy often gets asked about triclosan, so we blogged in more detail about it here.

Acrylates

Ingredients used in cosmetics and skincare as emulsifiers, gelling agents, or film formers. Some acrylates can be microplastics and accumulate in the environment, contributing to harm, and some can contribute to sensitized skin. NakedPoppy only allows the use of acrylates that are shown in documentation to be biodegradable, and filters out potentially sensitizing ones for those who indicate they have sensitive skin.

Carmine

An ingredient extracted from insects used to pigment makeup, especially lip color, with red coloring. NakedPoppy allows its use, but any product made with carmine will be clearly labeled and isn't considered vegan.

Fragrance Allergens

Usually used as fixatives in cosmetics and skincare products, fragrance allergens like benzyl benzoate, benzyl cinnamate, and benzyl salicylate can irritate skin. We follow the EU’s IFRA guidelines, only allowing fragrance allergens at levels deemed appropriate.

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals like lead and nickel aren't used in cosmetics as ingredients. But they can be present in trace amounts if certain ingredients were sourced in nature, because heavy metals are ubiquitous in nature. NakedPoppy tests its own products for heavy metals. We encourage our brand partners to do the same.

Lanolin

Lanolin is extracted from sheep’s wool, and doesn’t involve physical harm to the animal. As part of our screening process, we ask our partners to share information about their lanolin source and whether the sheep are treated humanely. Since no third party certifications or regulatory bodies exist related to lanolin production, we hope that over time, this will help shift demand towards humane sheep farming practices.

Linear Silicones

Due to their molecular structure, some silicones — linear ones, like dimethicone — are safe for human use. However, linear silicones can be associated with skin irritation and environmental concerns so we allow them sparingly.

Palm Oil

A common skin conditioner or emollient, palm oil poses no known harm to human health but is often harvested in an unsustainable fashion. NakedPoppy discourages the use of unsustainably sourced palm oil and actively encourages the use of RSPO-certified palm oil. RSPO refers to the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil.

Phenoxyethanol

A preservative used to help kill or prevent the growth of microbes, the EU has found phenoxyethanol to be safe in concentrations of 1% or less. Safe preservatives are extremely important in preventing harmful microbial growth, so NakedPoppy permits phenoxyethanol when used in concentrations of 1% or less.