New Natural Skin Care Standards – Prohibited Ingredients
The following ingredients are not allowed in the new natural skin care standards by the Natural Products Association:
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
- Amodimethicone
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate
- Butylene glycol
- Carbomer
- Ceteareth-20
- Cetrimonium Chloride
- Coco DEA
- Cocoamidopropyl Betaine
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Dimethicone
- Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
- EDTA
- EthylHexylGlycerin
- Glycereth-7 Cocoate
- Isoceteth 20
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Lauramide MEA
- Lauryl DEA
- Methoxycinnamate
- Olefin Sulfonate
- Oleyl Betaine
- Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, etc.)
- PEG-150 Distearate
- PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
- Polyquaternium 10
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium Lauryl Carboxylate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium PCA or Na PCA (pyrrolidone carbonic acid)
- Soyamidopropalkonium Chloride
- Stearamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine
Also, natural skin care products are not permitted to contain ingredients that contain the following in their name:
- “ethoxylate”
- “PEG”
- the suffix “-eth”
- “sarcosinate”
- “MEA”, “DEA” or “TEA”
- “taurate”
- “sultaine”
- “Sulfosuccinate”
- “PPG”
In addition, companies are not allowed to use these types of ingredients in their natural skin care products:
- synthetic silicone compounds
- petroleum derived ingredients including petrolatum, mineral oil or paraffin
- chemical sunscreens like avobenzone and oxybenzone
- synthetic polymers, i.e. ingredients that contain PVP or acrylates in the ingredient name
- preservatives that release formaldehyde, including DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methylisothiazolinone
This is not an exhaustive list. There may be other ingredients, not on this list, that are not allowed in natural skin care products.
There are a number of synthetic ingredients that are temporarily allowed in certified all natural skin care products. These are scheduled to be eliminated in 2010. They are:
- preservatives that do not release formaldehyde and do not contain parabens
- fragrances that do not contain phthalates and are not irritants
- coco-betaine
- quaternary ammonium compounds used in hair conditioners
It’s important to remember that the best natural skin care products may not be the ones certified by the Natural Products Association. Because of the high fees required to become certified, many small natural skin care companies may not be able to afford the certification, but may provide a superior natural skin care product.
Some of the best all natural skin care lines are found here.
Again, it all boils down to reading the labels and knowing which ingredients are safe and which are not.
Christine H. Farlow, D.C.
The Ingredients Investigator
Protecting You From Harmful Ingredients…
www.dyingtolookgood.com
www.dyingtolookgoodbook.com
