Restricted Ingredients
Ingredients can be harmful for different reasons. Some may dry out skin while others have been linked to cancer. Often, these ingredients are put into products to make them more pleasing — whether to smell a certain way, create a richer lather or give them a longer shelf life. But our bodies don’t know how to process them. At Follain, we ensure every ingredient in our products plays a positive role in your health. No downsides or compromises allowed.
– Breast Cancer Fund
– Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
– Center for Disease Control (CDC)
– Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
– Environmental Working Group (EWG)
– Skin Deep Database
– Health Canada
– International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
– National Institutes of Health (NIH)
A by-product generated by a process called ethoxylation , in which ethylene oxide, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh.
- Contaminant (unlisted in ingredient labels) – a substance that renders a product impure and unsuitable for use.
- Carcinogen
- Organ Toxicity
- Birth defects
Products that sud
- Used to help support fragrance in cosmetic and skincare
- Considered a probable human carcinogen. Learn more here.
Many types of cosmetic products. Look for this in products intended to be applied on or near the mouth/lips. Learn more here.
- Acetaldehyde
- Benzeneacetaldehyde
- Alpha Tolualdehyde
- Alpha-Toluic Aldehyde
- Metaldehyde
- Chloroacetaldehyde
- Crotonaldehyde
- (E)-crotonaldehyde
- 2,4-Dihydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde
- 3-(4-Hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde
- 4-(4-Hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde
Flammable chemical solvent
- Removal of other products (such as nail polish removers)
- Irritation of the skin, eyes, and lungs
- Organ toxicity and cancer
- Learn more here
Most common in nail polish removers, but also found in nail polish and various other cosmetic, skin, and hair products
- 2-Propanone
- Benzylideneacetone
- Anisylidene acetone
- Alpha-Methylanisylideneacetone
Metallic element
- Blocks the sweat ducts, preventing sweat from reaching the skin’s surface.
- Neurotoxicity
- Potential carcinogen
- Endocrine disruption
- Suspected to bioaccumulate within organs
- Skin and organ irritation
Antiperspirant
Alkanolamine
- pH Adjuster
- Ingredient stabilizer
- May form carcinogenic nitrosamines
- Reproductive and developmental toxicity
- Skin and organ irritation
All types of hair products
Procured from the meat, fat bone or genital glands of slaughtered or live animals
Animals could include sheep, beef, horses, pigs, shark, emu, mink, deer, otter, beavers and more.
- Skin conditioning
- Perfuming agent
- Skin and organ irritation
- Animal welfare
- Sustainability
All types of face, body, & cosmetic products.
A mixture of quaternary ammonium salts
- Preservative
- Anti-microbial agent
- Surfactant
- Severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant
- Allergy trigger
Anti-bacterial soap. Moisturizer.
Synthetic antioxidants
- Preservatives in both cosmetics and food
- Potential carcinogens
- Endocrine disruption
- May cause liver, kidney and thyroid problems
All types of hair products. All types of face products. All types of body products. All types of cosmetic products.
Antioxidant chemical ingredient based in toulene
- Preservative
- Skin irritation
Primarily in makeup, sometimes in skincare and haircare
Glycol ether that functions as a fragrance additive with a sweet odor
- Fragrance additive
- Solvent
- Viscosity control
- Possible carcinogen
- Reproductive toxicity
- Skin irritant
Many products with “fragrance” listed as an ingredient
Filters harmful UVA/UVB rays
- Ingredient stabilizer
- May cause cell damage and mutation
- Endocrine disruption
Sun care products
- Oxybenzone (or Benzophenone-3)
- Octinoxate (or octyl methoxycinnamate)
- Octocrylene
- Octisalate
- Homosalate
Byproduct of coal processing
- Colorant – an ingredient that imparts color to a product.
- Anti-dandruff agent
- Carcinogen: a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
- Coal Tar Solution
- P-phenylenediamine
- Aminophenol
- Diaminobenzene
Silicone compound
- Smoothing, moisturizing, and “slip” feel
- Endocrine disruption
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
- Bioaccumulates in the environment
- Learn more here
Hair care and skincare, especially creams, conditioners, and moisturizers
- Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4)
- Cyclopentasiloxane (D5)
- Cyclohexasiloxane (D6)
- Cyclomethicone
- Surfactant
- pH Adjuster
- Allergies
- Skin toxicity
- Endocrine disruption
- May form carcinogenic nitrosamines
- Inhibited fetal brain development
Styling products. Hair dye. Mascara. Foundation.
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- Cocamide DEA
- Cocamide MEA
- Triethanolamine (TEA)
- Monoethanlamine (MEA)
- Ethanolamine (ETA)
- Binding agent
- Penetration enhancer
- Organ toxicity
- Disodium EDTA
- Calcium Disodium EDTA
- Tetrasodium EDTA and HEDTA
- Others with -EDTA
Hair dye Moisturizer. Cleanser/body wash. Foundation Eye products (mascara, eyeliner).
- Preservative
- Carcinogen
- Neurotoxicity
- Developmental toxicity
- Asthma
- Skin/eye irritation
- Allergy trigger
- DMDM hydantoin
- Diazolidinyl urea (formaldehyde releasing)
- Imidazolidinyl urea (formaldehyde releasing)
- Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde releasing)
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol)
- Tosylamide / formaldehyde resin
Shampoo. Body wash. Bubble bath. Nail polish. Eyelash glue
- Skin bleaching
- Decreases production of melanin pigments in the skin
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- Carcinogen
- Increases risk of skin cancer
- Organ toxicity
Skin bleaching products. Cleanser. Moisturizer
Heavy Metal
- Preservative substance added to delay decomposition and inhibit spoilage by preventing growth of bacteria, yeast, and/or mold in a product.
- Anti-microbial agent
- Neurotoxicity – nervous system damage from overexposure to certain toxins.
- Organ and developmental toxicity
Mascara. Eyeliner.
- Thimerosal
- Solvent – a substance in which another substance is dissolved, to form a solution. Used to extract or suspend materials without altering the make up of the other chemicals. A classic example of a solvent is water.
- Viscosity control
- Skin irritation
- Cell damage and mutation
- Possible neurotoxicity
- Developmental toxicity
- Methoxyethanol
Anti-aging creams and treatments
Solvent
- Paint stripper or chemical processor
- Potential carcinogen. Learn more here.
- Skin and eye irritant
Aerosol hair sprays, nail glues, and nail polish removers
- Dichloromethane
- DCM
- Methylene dichloride
- Preservatives
- Fragrance enhancers
- Skin irritation
- Sensitizer
- Allergy trigger
- Possible neurotoxicity
All types of hair products.
By-product of petroleum distillation
- Moisturizer
- Contamination with PAHs which are linked to cancer
- Skin irritation
- Contact dermatitis
- Allergy trigger
- Liquid paraffin
Liquid petrolatum
All types of face products
Used to reduce the white chalky tint of mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
A nanoparticle measures in the range of 1-100 nanometers (1 nanometer = 1 billionth of a meter).
Little is known about the safety and performance of nanoparticles due to the fact that manufacturers do not have to disclose the qualities of particles in skincare products
- UV protection
- Penetration and texture enhancer
- Ingredient stabilizersubstance that prevents separation of ingredients
- Preservative
- Possible organ, reproductive and developmental toxicity
- Potential DNA/cell damage
- Skin and organ irritation
- Use of nanoparticles is not labeled in ingredients
Anti-aging products and treatments. Sunscreens
Esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid
- Preservativesa substance added to delay decomposition and inhibit spoilage by preventing growth of bacteria, yeast, and/or mold in a product.
- Anti-microbial agents
- Endocrine disruption
- Potential carcinogen
- Developmental, reproductive and immune toxicity
- Allergy trigger
All types of hair products
- Skin smoothing and water resistance
- Endocrine disruption
- Reproductive issues
- Potential carcinogen
- Environmental bioaccumulation
- Learn more here.
Skincare and cosmetics, especially foundations, mascaras, and lip products
- Anything containing a variation of “perfluoro”
A glycol ether that can either be found in nature or synthetic. Almost all phenoxyethanol used in beauty is synthetic.
- Used mainly as a preservative in skincare and cosmetic products.
- Skin irritant
- Nervous system suppressant
- Connected to reduced fecundity (longer times to get pregnant)
Nearly any kind of skincare or cosmetic product, as a preservative
Derived from phthalic acid
- Plasticizers
- Solubilizer
- Denaturant
- Endocrine disruption
- May cause birth defects
- Not labeled in ingredients
Synthetic fragrance, Hairspray
Extract derived from human or animal placentas (often from sheep and horse)
- Increases hair thickness
- Increases collagen production
- Exposure to high levels of progesterone and estrogenic chemicals can increase risk of various cancers
- Endocrine disruption
Hair treatments and thickener, Anti-aging products and treatments
Ethoxylated ingredient
- Thickeners
- Solvents
- Softeners
- Moisture-carriers
- Penetration enhancers
- Possible contamination with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both known carcinogens
All types of hair products, Moisturizer, Foundation
Produced by reacting polyol, sorbitol and ethylene oxide
- Surfactant
- Emulsifying agent
- Possible contamination with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both known carcinogens
All types of hair products, All types of face products, All types of body products
- Polysorbate –20, -40, -60, -80 and others
White crystalline solid derived from benzene
- Colorant
- Fragrance ingredient
- Acne therapy
- Skin irritation
- Possible endocrine disruption
- Organ and immune toxicity
- 2-Methylresorcinol (derivative of resorcinol)
Shampoo, Hair Dye, Styling products (foam and mousse)
By-product of a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh.
- Surfactant (Cleansing agent that produces suds, bubbles and foam)
- Contamination with 1,4 –dioxane
- Causes skin and eye irritation
- Can trigger allergies
Products that lather (shampoo, cleanser, soaps, some exfoliators, body wash, bubble bath)
- Skin conditioning
- Absorption enhancer
- Antistatic
- May form carcinogenic nitrosamines
Products that lather (shampoo, cleanser, soaps, some exfoliators)
By-product of a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide, is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh.
- Surfactant (Cleansing agent that produces suds, bubbles and foam)
- Contamination with 1,4 –dioxane
- Causes skin and eye irritation
- Can trigger allergies
Products that lather (shampoo, cleanser, soaps, some exfoliators, body wash, bubble bath)
Engineered scent or flavoring agent that usually contains dozens of (but could contain any combination of 3000+) chemical ingredients used to create fragrances. Fragrance and flavor formulas are “trade secrets” and can therefore remain undisclosed.
- scent or flavoring
- Severe skin and respiratory irritation
- Can trigger allergies, migraines and asthma attacks
- Potential carcinogen
- Neurotoxicity
- Endocrine disruption
- Birth defects
- Fragrance and Fragrance Blend
- Parfum/perfume
- Flavor
All types of hair products, All types of face products, All types of body products, All types of cosmetic products
Volatile petrochemical derived from benzene, a known carcinogen
- Solvent
- Neurotoxicity
- Links to blood, brain and reproductive cancers
- Birth defects
- Reproductive, developmental and immune toxicity
- Severe skin and organ irritation
- Toluol
- Benzene
- Methylbenzene
- Phenylmethane
Hair dye, Nail polish
- Antimicrobial agent (look for “Microban”)
- Endocrine disruption
- Toxic to aquatic environments
- Contributes to antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Antibacterial hand and body soap/cleanser, Hand sanitizer, Antiperspirant