At SkinKick, we leave out all the bad. We work incredibly hard every day to bring credibility back to natural skincare with clinically assessed, dermatologist-approved ingredients that are clean, effective, and safe — for you and the planet. The Nope Nada Never List includes some of the many toxic, harsh, or questionable ingredients we will never use in our products.
Harsh chemicals? Questionable ingredients?
nope nada never.
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
THE NOPE NADA NEVER LIST:
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
EDTA
(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
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)
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.
Sources: National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Drugs and Supplements Health Information, EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
A healthier you leads to a happier you — because how you look and feel in your skin impacts your confidence and self-esteem. Everyone deserves clear, healthy glowing skin. We want the best you to shine through every single day!
Now that you know what we will never use in our products, check out the list of awesome, clean + natural ingredients we do use.