Organic Apoteke: Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

When choosing an organic face cream or skincare product it is important to be aware of the ingredients within the product. Please look at labels carefully. Below is a list of ingredients that should be avoided. Organic Apoteke products do not contain any of these ingredients. 

Alcohol denat. (denatured alcohol): petrochemical by product. May cause contact dermatitis & chemical sensitivities. Organic Apoteke Products are alcohol-free.

Grain alcohol: causes dehydration and may cause contact dermatitis and chemical sensitivities.

Aluminum ingredients: skin irritants, can cause alzheimer’s, lung disease

Ammonium ingredients: toxic, carcinogenic

BHA & BHT: can cause cancer, encourages the breakdown of vitamins such as vitamin d, can cause lipid & cholesterol levels to increase, endocrine disrupter

Bismuth oxychloride: a synthetically prepared crystalline powder used in cosmetics as a filler, & to bind other ingredients. The powder has to be forced into the pores, resulting in clogged pores or irritated skin.

Coal tar & lake dyes: low-level exposure is linked to cancer, allergic reactions, nausea, fatigue & skin problems

Colorants (FD&C & other coal tar dyes): carcinogens, topical irritants, may cause acne & skin irritations, may contain aluminums, have caused tumors in rats, low-level exposure is linked to cancer

Cocamidopropyl betaine: contains a significant petroleum component & can cause serious irritation & allergenic response

DEA ingredients (all ingredients with dea after the first word): cancer

Dimethicone (& other methicone ingredients): cancer suspect. Caused tumors & mutation in lab animals

Dioxin: powerful hormone disrupting chemical linked to cancer, nervous system disorders, miscarriages & birth deformity. Stored in fat cells. Contained in sulfates that provide foaming action.

DMAE-dimethylaminoethanol: marketed as “face lift in a bottle,” however, what it does is temporarily paralyze the small muscles of the face, making it seem like wrinkles are less visible. No long term results of application are yet known

Idebenone: a synthetic analogue of coenzyme q10

Emulsifying waxes like cetyl or ceteryl alcohol : linked to the creation of free radicals & prostaglandin inhibitors

Formaldehyde: inability to inhibit the growth of acid producing bacteria & it’s implication in cancer

Fragrance: highly allergenic. Contains large quantities of toxins & chemicals not disclosed. Fragrance-free means that fragrance chemicals have been added to the product to mask the natural aromas of the ingredients

Glycerin: look for vegetable glycerin. Glycerin without the vegetable qualifier usually means petrochemical

Glycerol stearate: linked to the creation of free radicals & prostaglandin inhibitors

Hexane: very toxic solvent used to extract essential oils & botanicals

Hydroquinone: toxic, irritant, banned in europe, can cause hyper-pigmentation, skin bleacher

Imidazalidol urea: strong irritant, releases formaldehyde, toxic laureth family (ingredients with laureth, laurate or lauryl extensions): carcinogenic, skin irritants, may be contaminated with large amounts of toxins in manufacturing process, contains ammonium salts, mutagen, acne producing

Matrixyl: is a new polypeptide. It is said that matrixyl is at least as effective against wrinkles as retinol. It is said to work by “relaxing facial tension”, similarly to botox. We feel that repeatedly paralyzing the muscles can only sap their inherent strength.

Methylisothiazolinone: antimicrobial agent inhibits the development of particular neuron structures that are essential for transmitting signals between cells. Damaging to a developing nervous system

Octyl stearate: acne producing, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions

PABA: may cause formation of nitrosamines, cause photosensitivity (ironic)

Parabens: petrochemicals, estrogenic, carcinogenic, allergenic

Peg ingredients: carcinogenic, acne promoters, contact dermatitis

Petroleum (petrolatum, mineral oils, vaseline): acne producing, may be carcinogenic, causes long term dry skin, respiratory toxin

Phenonip: preservative blend of phenoxyethanol, methylparben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben & isobutylparaben

Phenoxyethanol: synthetic ether alcohol preservative. Can cause contactdermatitis.

Phthalates (esters of phthalic acid, such as dibutyl phthalate): derived from naphtalene, found in most conventional nail polishes, hair styling products, fragrances, squeezable plastics, soft plastic baby toys, baby wipes, & earphones of popular mp3 players. Dangerous when heated. Carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors that put you in higher risk for breast cancer, other hormone-related diseases, birth defects, allergies & testicular abnormalities in babies. May not be listed on products, hidden in ingredients such as synthetic fragrances & stabilisers.

PVP: widely used synthetic polymer, carcinogenic

Stearic acid or alcohol: carcinogens, skin irritants, comedogenic

Hydroxymethyl glycinate: releases formaldehyde, a known cancer agent

Talc: can contain asbestos, do not use on babies, linked to ovarian cancer, respiratory toxin

TEA ingredients (not tea, but rather ingredients with tea in front): severe irritants, can contain ammonium salts, eye irritant, sensitizer, carcinogenic.