Consumer Reports GreenerChoices Consumer Reports GreenerChoices
GreenerChoices.org -- Join our FREE e-mail newsletter
HOME LABELS & CLAIMS - ECO-LABELS SUPPORT US


Greener Choices Home > Home & garden > Personal care product buying guide 9/08
  Personal care product buying guide 9/08

Making green choices
How to choose
Making the right choice
  Why it matters
Specific issues
  What government & industry are doing

What you can do
  Recycling & disposal

Print this section
Making the right choice
Check the ingredient list and avoid harmful ingredients whenever possible. Because labels are often difficult to decipher and not all ingredients are necessarily disclosed, finding safer personal care products can be a challenge. It’s also the amount, not just the presence, of an ingredient that determines risk.

To err on the side of safety and avoid potentially harmful ingredients, consult the chart below, compiled with information from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Washington Toxics Coalition. You can also visit EWG’s Skin Deep report, an online searchable database of potentially toxic chemicals in personal care products, including phthalates, which are often not listed on labels. The database also offers brand-specific information and what the group considers safer alternatives . [Please note that Consumer Reports has not tested products for this report.]


Ingredients to avoid Common label terms Found in these product types Purpose of ingredient Main concerns
Coal tar colors FD&C Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6; D&C Red 33 Hair color and makeup Coloring agents or coloring additives FD&C Blue 1 and Green 3 are known carcinogens; D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6 may contain carcinogenic impurities.
Diethanolamine DEA (TEA and MEA are related ingredients) Mascara, sunscreen/tanning oil, body wash/cleanser, foundation, after shave Emulsifier or foaming agent Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to DEA may result in irritation of the nose and throat, and dermal exposure may irritate the skin.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) reported an increased incidence of liver and kidney tumors in mice from dermal exposure to DEA. However, DEA has not been classified as a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

While DEA is rarely used in cosmetics, related ingredients, such as cocamide DEA, MEA, and TEA, may be contaminated with DEA.
1,4-Dioxane Not identified on cosmetic labels because it’s a contaminant, but may be present in cosmetics that contain the following ingredients:
• PEG
• polyethylene
• polyethylene glycol
• polyoxyethylene
• polyethoxyethylene
• polyoxynolethylene 		A trace contaminant of some chemicals used in cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos It is used as a solvent in the manufacture of other chemicals Acute (short-term) exposure may cause eye and nose irritation; exposure to very high levels may cause severe kidney and liver effects and possibly death.

1,4-dioxane is also considered a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Formaldehyde Formaldehyde and formalin

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives include:
• quaternium-15
• 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol
• imidazolidinyl urea
• diazolidinyl urea 		Nail treatments, blush and face powder Preservative Known carcinogen and sensitizer (a chemical that causes a substantial proportion of exposed people to develop an allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical).
Fragrances Fragrance, parfum A variety of products including cleaners, moisturizers and make-up Scent, or masking scent Fragrances cause more allergic contact dermatitis than any other ingredient; may also cause watery eyes and respiratory tract irritation.
Metals, especially lead and mercury Lead: lead acetate

Mercury: thimerosal, mercurius solubilis, mercurius sublimates, mercurius corrosives, mercuric chloride		 Lead acetate: hair color

Mercury: pain/wound treatment, artificial tears		 Lead: coloring

Mercury: preservatives, and bleaching		 Lead and mercury are neurotoxins, affecting the brain and nervous system; mercury compounds are banned in cosmetics by the FDA.
Nonoxynol or nonylphenol ethoxylate Nonoxynol or nonylphenol ethoxylate Hair dyes and hair care products Surfactant (a substance that reduces the surface tension of liquids, making it easier for them to disperse) These chemicals can break down into toxic substances that can act as hormone disrupters, potentially threatening reproductive capacity.
Parabens Methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-parabens Facial cleanser, liquid hand soap, conditioner, toothpaste, shaving cream Preservative Can affect the endocrine system (the glands that produce hormones).
Phenylenediamine Phenylenediamine Hair dyes Dark coloring Possible carcinogen.
Phthalates DEHP, DHP, and DBP5 (not identified on cosmetic labels when they are in fragrance) Perfume, nail polish, hair sprays, soaps, shampoos Plasticizers (substances that make materials more flexible) May cause reproductive or developmental effects.
Triclosan Triclosan Lipstick, lipgoss, antiperspirant/deodorant, facial cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, facial moisturizer/treatment. Antibacterial May cause skin and eye irritation. May also promote antibiotic resistance. One study suggested that triclosan could form dioxin, a carcinogen, in the presence of sunlight, and another, that it could form chloroform, a probable human carcinogen, in the presence of chlorinated water.

Don’t assume that environmental and health claims are true. In many cases, manufacturers can make claims that are neither independently verified nor regulated by the government. Among the most common claims found on personal care products that may be meaningless are: natural, hypoallergenic, and non-toxic. To learn more about other common environmental and health claims found on personal care products, our free Eco-labels site.

If you’re concerned about specific ingredients in a product, contact the company. The manufacturer’s name and location must be listed on all personal care products so that consumers can contact it with questions, comments, or problems.









About GreenerChoices.org   |   Newsroom   |   Your privacy rights   |   Security   |   Contact us
Copyright © 2003-2009 by Consumers Union of United States., Inc., 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703, a nonprofit organization. No downloading, transmission, photocopying, or commercial use permitted. Visit www.GreenerChoices.org.