Beauty Tips

Dangerous Ingredients You Should Avoid

Learn what earth-friendly buzz words to look for in your skin care, hair care and makeup ... and which harmful ingredients you should avoid on your beauty product labels

by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff

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Avoid: Sodium Laureth (aka 1,4-Dioxane) Although it's classified as a human and animal carcinogen by the EPA, 1,4-Dioxine, a byproduct of processing harsh chemicals with ethylene oxide to make them less harsh, is prevalent on beauty shelves. Got sodium lauryl sulfate? Ethyoxylate it and you get sodium laureth -- the "eth" indicates the process. Unfortunately you also get 1,4-Dioxine, most commonly found in things that bubble.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Look for: Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside

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Older comments

Interesting article.

by Zeaundra Monday, February 25, 2013 at 07:50AM Report as inappropriate

This is a really informative article. I am definitely going to check my ingredients.

by Lili04 Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 03:14AM Report as inappropriate

Good to know

by kimihavens Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 02:51PM Report as inappropriate

So many good things to know!!!

by vfalkow Friday, September 16, 2011 at 08:05PM Report as inappropriate

Great. But if there is list of which products have these that have to avoided would be really great. Also a printable version of avoid and look would be nice too.

by ebbsandtides Friday, May 27, 2011 at 09:34AM Report as inappropriate

Wow, informative and eye opening. Thanks!

by Agrimony Friday, April 22, 2011 at 08:31PM Report as inappropriate

wonderful to know!

by Rawrrr Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 07:53AM Report as inappropriate

This was a really informative article! I'm glad that there are now so many great products on the market that don't have these dangerous ingredients.

by LipglossandSpandex Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 07:57PM Report as inappropriate

Mmm true that. /:

by yckitsmary Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 02:42PM Report as inappropriate

I love argan oil

by LittleBunny Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 01:25PM Report as inappropriate