Hazards
Cosmetics can pose various short-term hazards, such as flammability (hairspray,
deodorant, nail polish remover) or skin irritation (e.g. hair colors). Products contain a
wide variety of ingredients, including many different dyes and fragrances. Some
ingredients can cause allergic reactions or sensitivity in certain individuals. Others may
cause cancer or other serious illness.
Recently, concerns have been raised about some specific ingredients in cosmetics
(see sidebar). Many of these ingredients can cause health effects from inhalation or skin
exposure through continued use. Testing has shown that some of these ingredients make
their way inside our bodies, sometimes in amounts that could be harmful. The safety of
particular ingredients is often controversial, and removing them from products can take
years, even after the risk is documented. Some companies are responding to consumer
health and safety concerns and are removing certain ingredients voluntarily without
being required by law or regulation to do so. (See “Shop carefully” below, and Phthalates
sidebar.)
Some ingredients in cosmetics, such as certain detergents, alcohols, and plant oils
can irritate your skin if there is enough of the ingredient in the product. If these
ingredients are used in small amounts, they may have no health effects at all and are of
little concern. Ingredients with very serious health effects or those that can build up in
our bodies or the environment (like those listed in the sidebar) can be a problem even in
small amounts.
Specific Products
We don’t have space to consider every type of cosmetic product here, but let’s look
at a few of the more commonly used ones.
• hair color
Hair coloring products are among the more hazardous cosmetics. Least dangerous
are probably the temporary dyes. Permanent dyes contain a mixture of potent chemicals
that can cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation at the least and more serious health
effects such as cancer are possible. The gradual hair colors may contain lead acetate.
Lead is an extremely toxic chemical that harms children’s intelligence, and no safe level
of has been found. Although the FDA has specifically stated that lead-based hair dyes
are safe if used as directed, we suggest that you avoid them as a precaution, especially
if you will have contact with children. Another ingredient of concern is dye made from
coal tar.
• fragrances
Perfumes, colognes, after-shave lotions, and other scented products contain volatile
chemicals meant to be inhaled. Some people find these odors pleasant, even alluring,
while others have adverse reactions. Be sensitive to your friends’ and colleagues’
requests to spare them from your perfumes and other fragrances (remember that they
linger on clothing). The myriad ingredients in fragrances are mostly highly secret, but
recent research has shown that most fragrance products contain toxic chemicals called
phthalates that may cause health problems (see sidebar).
• nail polish and remover
Nail polish is essentially a solvent-based paint, and nail polish remover is like paint
remover. Most are highly flammable, and over-exposure can be bad for your health. Like
fragrances, many polishes have also been found to contain phthalates, but nail polishes
contain the more toxic DBP form (see sidebar). Leftover products are usually classified
as hazardous waste for disposal purposes (see disposal sidebar).
Focus on Phthalates
Phthalates are plasticizers used in
all kinds of products. Reproductive
effects and birth defects are a
concern for those most highly
exposed, especially women of
reproductive age. Two types (DEP
and DBP) often used in cosmetics
are often found in our bodies.
DEP is common in fragrances and
is found in many cosmetics. DBP
is usually found in nail polish.
Recent studies have shown that
phthalate exposure is higher and
more common than previously
thought. Health advocates are
calling for the removal of phthalates
from products. To find lists
of cosmetics that do and don’t
contain phthalates, go to the Not
Too Pretty website (see link in
Resources box). As a result of
consumer pressure, L’Oreal,
Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
Unilever have taken the important
first step of agreeing to remove
two phthalates, DEHP and DBP,
from their products sold in the
United States and globally.
• deodorants and antiperspirants
Aerosol deodorants are pressurized and usually highly flammable, thanks to lots of
alcohol and propellant gas, with the potential to become blowtorches. Many deodorants
and antiperspirants contain toxic phthalates as well. Partially full containers are
considered hazardous waste for disposal purposes.
• hair spray
Spraying your hair with plastic may seem like a strange thing to do, but the
application of these gravity- and wind-defying products continues to be popular, though
perhaps not in the amounts required by 1970s hairstyles. Flammability is an obvious
hazard with most of them, so smokers should allow plenty of drying time before lighting
up. Many hair sprays, as well as mousses and gels, have been shown to contain
phthalates. Partially full containers are considered hazardous waste for disposal purposes.
• makeup
The various paints, powders, and other concoctions known as makeup are too
diverse to discuss in a single description. Of particular concern here may be some of the
artificial colors if they contain coal-tar pigments (see sidebar).
• hand soap
Soaps are generally fairly benign and essential for good hygiene. We do suggest that
you stay away from soaps marketed as “antibacterial.” There is considerable doubt that
these products are necessary—thorough washing with hot water and plain soap is
adequate—and concerns have been expressed in the public health community that these
antibacterial ingredients may foster growth of bacteria that become resistant to control.
For more information, see our fact sheet
Antimicrobial Products, Who Needs Them?• lotions
Few cosmetic products have as significant and long-term skin contact as lotions.
They are used frequently, applied to large areas of skin, and are rubbed in thoroughly.
They mainly consist of various oils and alcohols, and, of course, fragrances. Many,
however, also contain phthalates.
What’s a Body to Do?
Many cosmetic products are necessary, and others are desired by a large fraction of
the population. While it makes sense to avoid unnecessary use of any chemical products,
especially ones applied to our bodies, abstinence (from cosmetics) will not be a complete
solution for most people. So, we are left with selecting safer products and working for
more regulation and corporate responsibility.
Shop Carefully
You can read labels and avoid obvious labeled hazards and the ingredients listed in
the sidebar, but remember that phthalates are rarely identified. Or, you can choose by
brands. Unfortunately, there is some inconsistency in recommendations among different
publications, but we believe that the following sources are reliable:
Products without phthalates: see the report
report.htm
An online searchable database of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care
products and safer alternatives can be found at www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep.
Companies recommended by
Real Purity, Logona, and Sante KosmeticsNot too Pretty at www.nottoopretty.org/The Green Guide (www.thegreenguide.com): Aveda,
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