❌ Adapalene

may worsen acne; may cause or increase the irritation associated with eczema or seborrheic dermatitis; can cause birth defects; common side effects include dryness and peeling of skin, itching of skin, and redness of skin

❌ Alcohol

super drying agents

❌ Benzoyl Peroxide

severely damages the microbiome (your natural skin barrier); aggravates the skin and in some cases causes severe irritation, burning, dryness, itching, peeling, redness and swelling; known to bleach clothing and bedding

❌ BHA and BHT

synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives; likely carcinogens and hormone disruptors, and may cause liver damage

❌ Charcoal

carbon particles that are only removed by stripping (and damaging) microbiome; can cause scarring, infection, and hyperpigmentation; may worsen acne

❌ Clay

leaves particles that can only be removed by stripping microbiome; common side effects include dryness and skin irritation

❌ EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)

a binding agent added to cosmetics to improve stability, may be toxic to organs

❌ Essential oils

irritate facial skin

❌ Gluten

can cause inflammation

❌ Glycols

dry out skin + can cause irritation

❌ Hydroquinone

skin-lightening chemical that is linked to cancer and skin irritation; common side effect is drying of skin

❌ Man-made Salicylic Acid

often increases the risk of more breakouts; can cause skin irritation not present before use; although salicylic acid can be obtained from plants, it has long been produced by chemical synthesis, meaning it is not natural or naturally derived and it requires buffering (aka the use of chemical agents to stabilize the acidity pH)

❌ Mineral Oil

a by-product of petroleum distillation that may cause contact dermatitis

❌ Parabens 
(methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl-, and others)

a class of preservatives used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold which may alter hormone mechanisms in our bodies and may play a role in triggering breast cancer; endocrine (or hormone) disruptors

❌ Paraffins

from petroleum oil, which is often cancer-causing

❌ PEGs (polyethylene glycols)

petroleum-based compounds that are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers; depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, which are carcinogens.

❌ Petroleum products

very often cancer-causing

❌ Phthalates 
(DBP, DEHP, DEP, and others)

endocrine (or hormone) disruptor that may cause birth defects

❌ Propanediol

can cause skin irritation and trigger allergies; often used as an alternative to propylene glycol 

❌ Propylene Glycol

a strong skin irritant, and has been implicated in contact dermatitis; can inhibit skin cell growth and damage cell membranes, causing rashes, dry skin, and surface damage.

❌ Retinol (man-made Vitamin A)
and Retinyl Palmitate

a nutrient used in many skin care products as a source of Vitamin A for anti-aging; may damage DNA and speed growth of skin tumors when applied to skin; doctors also recommend pregnant women do not use retinol due to possible harm to the baby — we believe that possible harm to a fetus indicates that retinol is also unhealthy for the body.

❌ Sulfates (SLS and SLES)

can cause skin irritation and dryness or trigger allergies

❌ Synthetic dyes (artificial color)

can discolor the skin and cause irritation

❌ Synthetic fragrance

can cause skin irritation; can contain any combination of 3,000+ stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens

❌ Triclosan and Triclocarban

antimicrobial pesticides toxic to the aquatic environment; may also impact human reproductive systems.