The Dirty Dozen Plus
The members of the Teens for Safe Cosmetics Campaign want you to be
aware that certain chemicals in your everyday personal care products
may be harmful to your health. Beware of the following dangerous
chemicals that make up the "Dirty Dozen Plus."
Chemical: Butyl Acetate
Function: Solvent in polishes and treatments; prevents chipping
Present in: Nail polish and nail treatments
Health concern: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness and cracking; vapors may induce drowsiness or dizziness.
Chemical: Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Function: Anti-oxidant; slows down the rate at which product ingredients change in color.
Present in: Lip makeup, moisturizer, anti-aging treatment, foundation,
fragrance, bar soap, shaving products, antiperspirant/deodorant,
concealer, sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, blush, shampoo,
conditioner, acne treatment, body lotion/oil, powder, makeup remover,
depilatory cream, toothpaste, styling products, exfoliator, nail
treatments
Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Coal Tar
Function: Controls itching and eczema, softens and promotes the dissolution of hard, scaly, rough skin; also used in hair dyes
Present in: shampoo and hair dyes
Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer
says there is sufficient evidence that coal tars are carcinogenic in
humans. The EU banned coal tar from cosmetics in 2004.
Chemical: Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
Function: Used as foaming agents in shampoos and bath products, and as emulsifying agents in cosmetics
Present in: shampoo, body wash/cleansers, bath oils, facial cleansers,
liquid hand soap, bar soap, acne treatment, baby wash, shaving
products, body scrubs, foot odor cream/treatment, deodorant,
moisturizer, hair dye/spray
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer
or other significant health problems. May form carcinogenic compounds
on the skin or in the body after absorption.
Chemical: Diazolidinyl Urea
Function: Formaldehyde-releasing, anti-microbial preservative
Present in: moisturizer, styling products, shampoo/conditioner,
hairspray/dyes, anti-aging treatment, facial cleanser, sunscreen,
foundation, eye makeup, acne treatment, mascara, body wash, deodorant,
concealer, exfoliator, powder, body scrubs, bath oils/salts,
eye/contact care, lip makeup, shaving products, after-sun products,
douche/personal cleanser, makeup remover, depilatory cream/hair
remover, liquid hand soap, nail treatments, pain relief rub/ointment,
fragrance
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems.
Chemical: Ethyl Acetate
Function: Solvent
Present in: Nail polish products, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume
Health concerns: Use can irritate eyes and skin.
Chemical: Formaldehyde
Function: Disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, preservative
Present in: Deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, shaving cream
Health concerns: A suspected human carcinogen, it may trigger asthma;
it's also an irritant to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and can
damage DNA. Formaldehyde is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)
Function: Group of chemicals widely used as preservatives to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold growth; antibacterial
Health concerns: May alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risks
for certain types of cancer, impaired fertility or fetal development.
May cause skin irritation; studies have found parabens in breast
tumors.
Chemical: Petrolatum
Function: Petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin; makes lipsticks shine and creams smoother; helps soften skin
Present in: Creams, lotions, ointments, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadows, liquid powders, lipsticks
Health concerns: May be contaminated with impurities and linked to
cancer or other significant health problems; also causes allergic
reactions, and is banned by the EU.
Chemical: Phthalates
Function: Industrial chemicals that are used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics
Present in: Nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hairspray, hair gel/mousse, lotions
Health concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs;
they can also cause permanent birth defects in the male reproductive
system.
Chemical: Propylene Glycol
Function: Penetration enhancer; keeps products from melting or freezing
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners,
liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products,
moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne,
deodorant, toner/astringent, foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish,
lip products, eye shadow/pencil, mascara
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to
penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals
that reach the bloodstream; skin irritant.
Chemical: Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Function: Penetration enhancer
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, facial cleaners,
liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products,
moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne
Health concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to
penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of other chemicals
that reach the bloodstream.
Chemical: Talc
Function: Absorbs moisture
Present in: Primary ingredient in blush and powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, soap
Health concerns: Cosmetic-grade talc is a proven carcinogen; there is a
link between use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Data suggests
that talc can cause tumors in the lungs; it has also been found to
cause tumors in lab animals.
Chemical: Toluene
Function: Solvent to improve adhesion and gloss
Present in: Mainly nail polish and hair dye
Health concerns: Toluene potentially causes cancer and liver damage; it
is also a pregnancy concern, irritating to the skin and respiratory
tract, and harmful by inhalation.
Chemical: Triethanolamine
Function: A coating ingredient for fresh fruits; widely used as a
dispersing ingredient in hand and body lotions, shaving cream, soaps,
shampoos and bath powders
Present in: Hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and bath powders
Health concerns: It may form carcinogenic compounds on the skin or in
the body, and is thought to possibly cause cancer in humans.
