Beauty

How to Tell if Your Makeup is Toxic & Full of Carcinogens

Why voluntarily expose yourself to cancer causing chemicals each and every day?

By 

Dr Bronner – Face & Body Soaps

These soaps are moisturizing, non-drying and soothing for the skin. They contain no added fragrance, color, detergents/foaming agents or harsh chemicals. They come in a range of yummy scents, for a range of skin types, and are great as a facial cleanser when you’re traveling.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1-2 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 stars


Acure Organics – Organic Facial Oils

Termed as a ‘Super Food’, Acure Organics Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E, Essential Fatty Acids, and Proteins, and is light weight and easily absorbed. It helps smooth out fine lines, repairs imperfections, minimizes scars and stretch marks, restores texture, elasticity and tone, and reduces inflammation. Josie Maran sells her little bottle for $44, but this one is better, as it’s 100% organic and only $14. Since the bottle is clear, make sure it stays out of the sunlight (FYI: Oils oxidize and lose potency in sunlight. The sun also creates aging free-radicals in oils.)

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: Not rated
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Devita – Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30

A moisturizer and sun block in one, this $16 daytime cream is especially suitable for sensitive skin. It is 100 vegan and paraben free, absorbs quickly and is light enough to wear under make up. With a pleasant smell, and no residue, this is the perfect daytime moisturizer.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: Not rated
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thayer’s – Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner

Made from the extract of the Witch Hazel shrub and rose-petal water, this alcohol free toner cleanses, tones and soothes the skin. Perfect for wiping away excess oil, this toner smells and feels incredibly refreshing on the skin. This soothing $8 toner is something you’ll want to keep at home and at work.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating:  Not rated
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Lavanila – Healthy Sunscreen SPF 30 

Lavanila sunscreens use a blend of minerals and anti oxidants to provide nourishment and UVA/UVB protection to the skin. This non whitening, fragrance free product is 100% natural and completely free from chemicals. All that and, unlike most sunscreens, it smells absolutely divine! It’s a bit pricey though, at $28.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 8 (Very Low Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Seventh Generation – Baby Sunscreen SPF 30

This gentle sunscreen uses mineral sun filters to provide UVA/UVB protection to the baby’s delicate skin. It contains no chemical sunscreens, parabens, gluten or PABA. At $12, this is a steal.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: Not rated
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Aura Cacia – Massage Cream (Lavender, Cinnamon/Ylang Ylang)

Calming and relaxing, these massage creams contains nourishing jojoba and coconut oils and give silky smooth skin. Take it with you when you go to the spa to get a massage, as many spas use oils mixed with lots of unknown chemicals. A bottle will last a long time, and it’s only $5.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: Not rated
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 8.8  (Almost No Hazard or Irritants)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Be Natural Organics – AHA Facial Wash

This highly effective foaming cleanser contains 10% glycolic acid to help destroy acne-causing bacteria. It gently helps remove the skin’s outer dead layer, allowing easier release of clogged pores, excess sebum and debris, leaving the skin clean and with an even skin tone. At $23, it’s well worth the price.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: Not rated
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Dr. Bronner’s – Hand Sanitizer – Lavender

Certified under the National Organic Program that also verifies food products, these lavender-scented hand sanitizers are free from harsh chemicals and contain organic glycerine to moisturize the skin. For $4, buy several and leave them in the car, your purse, at work, etc.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Bronner’s – Liquid Soap

These soaps contain essential oils which are certified under the USDA’s National Organic Program, which ensures the organic integrity of products. They are also certified under the National Organic Program that also verifies food products. For $4 to $9 for a huge bottle, very good things can come cheap!

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: Between 4-5 out of 5 stars

The Body Shop – Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser

This is a mild and creamy soap-free cleansing lotion which is particularly good for dry and sensitive skin, and leaves the skin feeling soft, supple and smooth. It’s thick, so you may need to use a cloth to wipe it all off. At $10, this is our best pick for the winter months.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Beautypedia Rating: Excellent
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Miessence Organics – (Mint or Anise) Toothpaste

Free of artificial colours, flavourings and without fluoride, aluminium or detergents, all Miessence toothpastes contain only natural ingredients. The anise toothpaste combines the healing properties of fragrant star anise with the cleaning power of bicarbonate of soda. The $11 you spend is well worth it when you think about how much toothpaste you ingest over a year, and the fact that fluoride is one of the more toxic ingredients you can ingest.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 0 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating: 10 (No Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Out Of Africa – Pure Shea Butter (Vanilla) Soap

This sexy-smelling bar soap is used to cleanse the skin without causing it to dry. It contains 20% pure unrefined shea butter, antioxidants, vitamins A, E, and F, helping with skin tone and elasticity. This bar soap lasts 50% longer than other bar soaps in the market.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating:   1  (No Hazard)
  • Good Guide Health Rating:  Not Rated
  • Amazon.com Rating: 4.3 stars.  Users of this bar soap love it for its aroma and its effects on their skin.

Aromatica – Organic Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera comes in very handy for skin that’s over exposed to the sun. 98% of Aromatica’s aloe vera gel is of natural origin and from organic farming.  When applied, it leaves your skin feeling refreshed and calm. Not only that, it soothes the burns away restoring and maintaining a moisturized look for your skin. We love it as a daily moisturizer.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 1 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating:  Not rated
  • Amazon.com Rating:  Not rated

Miessence Organics – Shimmer Creme

This product comes in a convenient clasp compact making it easy for you to add color on your face. It also comes with a subtle amount of shimmer that’s appropriate for wherever you are at the moment.

  • EWG Skin Deep Rating: 0 (No Hazard)
  • GoodGuide Health Rating:  7  (Low Hazard)
  • Amazon.com Rating:  Not rated

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Read more about toxins in products you use:

Pages: 1 2

A writer, artist, and designer since she was young enough to put pencil to paper, Hilary taught herself code and created Urbanette when she was a teenager. Currently, she lives in Monte Carlo, but spent the past decade living in NYC, still considers herself a New Yorker, and visits regularly. She's always traveling, looking for hot new topics, destinations, and life hacks to bring to Urbanette readers.

Reader Discussion: 156 Comments

  1. Ruth

    Of all cosmetic products that have questionable ingredients, the youtube mentioned just one by name. How come?

  2. Desiree

    I will only buy products that conform to the EU standards. There are a few companies that do this at a reasonable or even comparable to drug store brands in price. Blessed I found a solution for me and my hair and skin.

  3. Bastian

    PEG, Parabens or SLS stand alone are not so harmful, but combined with each other or other factors are seriously dangerous. PEG comes together with dioxane, SLS helps triclosan transfer into your body, Parabens reacts with skin under the UV radiation. All of this cases are carcinogenic factors. And I’m writing not only about skin cancer, but also other types of tumors and cancerous effects. To know more about this read a book Do I Have Cancer (net-bossorg/do-i-have-caner)

  4. Helen Griffith

    Thank you for such an informational article. I always look forward to reading a good article on urbanette.

  5. Miriam Love

    We all know that these products that we use on our skin are harmful but I cannot think of any other product which I can use as an alternative I think I am addicted to using cosmetic and I cannot do a day without them.

  6. Meredith Boyd

    When I purchase a new eyeshadow or shampoo, I expect those products will be safe and that they won’t cause skin breakouts but after reading this I am confused what am I supposed to do. And which product am I supposed to use?

  7. Joanne Reese

    This is heartbreaking, I spend so much on cosmetics every month and we trust all the companies and they cheat us.

  8. Cheryl Curry

    Urbanette comes up with so many interesting and informational posts. Thank you for another such post.

  9. Leah Steele

    There are many harmful effects of using cosmetics, beauty products work well but they do have harmful effects along with it.

  10. Faye Phillips

    Okay!! but what am I supposed to do with all those expensive makeup that I already have??

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