Do you want fossil fuels on your face? Neither do we! Believe it or not, even luxury skin creams contain synthetic fragrances, endocrine disruptors, emulsifiers, problematic preservatives, and even artificial colorants and dyes.
It's not known exactly how much of what you put on your face gets absorbed into your body and your bloodstream, but why take the risk when there are plenty of healthier alternatives out there? These potentially harmful substances can cause skin reactions, inflammation, and premature aging — all in the name of beauty.
Many ingredients commonly used in the beauty industry are byproducts of petroleum production. Fossil fuel-based ingredients don't belong in your body and on your skin, and beyond requiring crude oil to be produced, they can also pollute ecosystems through landfills and waterways.
You shouldn't have to choose between products that work and products that potentially harm us and/or the environment over time. Read on for an extensive list of ingredients we intentionally leave out of our formulas. LXMI's labs only use ingredients ranked no higher than a "1" on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Index. Some of our skincare products are even safe enough to eat. This is our Clean Beauty Code.
A – F
Benzalkonium chloride
A disinfectant used as a preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and allergies. Found in sunscreens and moisturizers.
Benzophenone
Used to protect products from UV light. Derivatives like oxybenzone are persistent, bioaccumulative, and linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and organ toxicity.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Found in plastics, thought to possibly increase incidences of endometriosis. Can leach into products from packaging even when labeled "BPA-free."
BHA and BHT
Used as preservatives in personal care products and foods. Linked to endocrine disruption and organ-system toxicity.
Chemical sunscreens
Includes oxybenzone and methylexylcinnamate. Can cause skin discoloration and exacerbate flushing in rosacea-prone skin.
Coal tar
A known carcinogen derived from burning coal, containing hundreds of compounds including PAHs. Linked to skin tumors and neurological damage.
1,4-Dioxane
A carcinogen created as a byproduct when common sudsing ingredients react, not listed directly on labels. Look for sodium laureth sulfate and PEG compounds.
Disodium EDTA
A petrochemical-derived chelating agent, made from formaldehyde and sodium cyanide, used to keep formulas stable. It weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it easier for other synthetic ingredients in the same product to slip deeper into your skin. Its biodegradability is weak, building up in waterways where it can release trapped heavy metals back into the water.
Ethanolamines
Includes MEA/DEA/TEA/DMAE. Linked to liver tumors; DEA is prohibited in EU cosmetics to reduce carcinogenic nitrosamine contamination.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are common in shampoos and baby soaps. Linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions.
G – O
Gluten
Listed as hydrolyzed wheat protein, wheat germ oil, or oat amino acids. Some reports of allergic reactions from soaps containing hydrolyzed wheat protein.
Glycol
Includes butylene, hexylene, and propylene glycol. Widely used but can cause skin and respiratory irritation, especially in sensitive individuals.
Hydroquinone
Commonly used in skin lighteners. Linked to cancer and organ-system toxicity.
Lanolin
Extracted from sheep's wool. Beneficial for dry skin but can cause allergic reactions, especially in those with wool allergies.
Methyl cellosolve
A solvent in anti-aging products. A neurotoxin linked to DNA mutation, banned in Canada and restricted in the EU.
Methylisothiazolinone
A common liquid-product preservative (MIT/CMIT) linked to lung toxicity, allergic reactions, and possible neurotoxicity.
Microplastics
Tiny polyethylene beads used in exfoliants that persist in waterways and ecosystems.
Mineral oil
A liquid hydrocarbon mixture from petroleum. Possible immune system toxicant or allergen when aerosolized.
Nitrites
Used to preserve and color products. Can trigger allergic reactions, hives, or asthma in sensitive individuals.
P – Z
Parabens
Preservatives used to prevent microbial growth. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals absorbed through skin, blood, and digestion.
PEGs
Petroleum-based thickeners and solvents that may be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, and can cause irritation on broken skin.
Phthalates
Linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. Banned in EU cosmetics, still common in the U.S.
Silicones
Give a silky, smoothing surface effect but form a barrier that can trap dirt, sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells.
Sulfates
SLS and SLES are common foaming agents that can aggravate skin, causing redness, dryness, and itching in some people.
Synthetic colorants
Often made of coal tar and may contain heavy metals like arsenic and lead, increasing skin sensitivity and irritation risk.
Synthetic fragrance
Synthetic musks bioaccumulate in the environment and human tissue, and can disrupt cell function and hormone systems.
Talc
May contain the carcinogen asbestos and should be avoided unless verified asbestos-free, especially near the pelvic area.
Toluene
A toxic chemical in nail products and hair dyes; can cause headaches, dizziness, and more serious reproductive or respiratory effects.
Triclosan and Triclocarban
Common antimicrobial agents linked to endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Sources: CosIng, SafeCosmetics.org, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Health Canada, EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange