The No-No List

We carefully screen every product and ingredient to ensure they meet our standards. While our no-no list is extensive, it’s not exhaustive—there are tens of thousands of ingredients in use today so we actually avoid more than what is listed here.

This list gives you insight into our strict standards. But remember, ingredients have nuance. Toxicity depends on dosage, route of exposure and individual biology. Some ingredients are obvious to avoid, while others we avoid as more of a precaution. We champion for people to set their own standards to avoid overwhelm. Our free Ingredient Library is a great place to start to build your own!

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1,2-Hexanediol
1,4-Dioxane (a contaminant)
Aluminum Chlorohydrate
Artificial Flavor
Artificial Food Colors avoid them all, but especially: Red 40, Allura Red, Yellow 5, Tartrazine, Yellow 6, Sunset Yellow, Blue 1, Brilliant Blue, Blue 2, Indigo Carmine
Artificial Sweeteners, Acesulfame potassium, Aspartame, Neotame, Sucralose, Saccharin
Benzalkonium Chloride
BHA & BHT
Butane, Isobutane
Butyl Glycol, Butoxyethanol
Butylene Glycol
Chemical Sunscreen Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone
Cocamidopropyl Betaine / Hydroxysultaine
DEAs, Diethanolomine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA
Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (DDBSA)
EDTAs
Ethoxylated Ingredients (many sulfates or ingredients ending in -eth or chloride are ethoxylated)
Ethylene oxide (a contaminant)
Fluoride
Formaldehyde and its releasers: 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Bronopol, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Formalin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methanal, Methenamine, Methylene Glycol, Polyoxymethylene Urea, Quaternium-15, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Fragrance, Much like "natural flavor" in food, fragrance is poorly regulated, which makes it another mystery ingredient. The formula is usually protected as a "trade secret." The 3,500+ chemicals used in fragrance are not subject to pre-market safety assessments. They can emit VOCs and contribute to brain fog, dizziness and respiratory problems. It is usually neurotoxic and in some cases has been linked to carcinogens. Some ingredients eventually get banned in some countries, but thousands remain a mystery. Might also appear under parfum, perfume, aroma, or scent on a product label.

Gums in food (most)
Grapefruit Seed Extract (contains hidden synthetic preservatives)
High-fructose corn syrup
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Hydroquinone
Isohexadecane
Lake dyes
Methylisothiazolinone and other -isothiazolinones
MSG or Monosodium Glutamate sometimes listed as:Glutamic acid, Monosodium salt, L-glutamic acid, Monosodium L-glutamate, Sodium glutamate, Also hidden in "Natural Flavor"
Nanoparticles
Natural Flavor White it may sound innocent, it is not. Natural Flavor is not well regulated and "natural" is misleading because they are allowed to contain synthetic chemicals. They can also be derived from common allergens like dairy, nuts or gluten making it quite the mystery ingredient! Natural Flavors are often highly processed, including the use of solvents, fermentation and more. You may choose to make an exception for Organic Natural Flavors, which do have much stricter guidelines.
Parabens under many names, ends in paraben
Petroleum Products, Mineral Oil might appear under: Paraffinum liquidum, Petrolatum, Paraffin oil, Liquid paraffin, White mineral oil, White oil, Liquid petroleum, Petroleum distillates,C15-19 alkane, Microcrystalline wax
PEGs (Polyethylene glycol) and PPGs Ceteareth, PEG, Polyethylene oxide (PEO), Polyoxyethylene, Carbowax (a trademark name for PEG), Macrogol (used in Europe as the generic name for PEG), Polyglycol, Glycol polyethylene, Polyethylene oxide, Polyoxymethylene, Triceteareth
Phenoxyethanol
Phthalates under many names, but always ends in phthalates; usually appears as an acronym: (DEP) (DBP) (DEHP) (BBP) (DINP) (DIDP) (DnOP) (DMP)
Polysorbates
Potassium Bromate

Propylene Glycol
Quats like behentrimonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, diphenol hydroxybenzene, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, quaternium-15, polyquaternium-7; TIP: if it ends in chloride or contains “quat” in the name, check if it’s a quaternary ammonium compound.
Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate when used in the sun
Seed Oils, Industrial, Canola, Corn, Cottonseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Safflower, Grapeseed
*we make exceptions for organic, pressed seed oils such as Organic Sunflower oil which do not use solvents and chemicals
Siloxanes/Silicones often ends in “siloxane” “-cone”, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Siloxanes
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) might appear under: Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium salt sulfuric acid, Monododecyl ester, Sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, Sodium salt of lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium salt of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate
Sodium polyacrylate
Talc
TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)
Titanium Dioxide (in powder form)
Tocopheryl Acetate
Triclosan may also appear as 2,4,4’-triclor’-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 5-Chlor-2-(2,4-diclorophenoxyl) phenol
CH-3635, Irgasan CH3635, Irgasan DP 300, Ster-Zac, Lexol 300, Microban
Trisodium Phosphate
Trans Fats, Hydrogenated oils, Partially hydrogenated oils

CAUTION LIST

These we avoid under certain circumstances.

Citric acid (non-GMO preferred)
Potassium Sorbate (avoid in food, some exceptions for topical)
Lonicera Japonica Japanese Honeysuckle (some exceptions like for rinse off, more research needed)
Sodium Benzoate (avoid in food, and most topicals)

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