Toxic Chemicals to Avoid in Skin Care Products
Home > Health Articles > Toxic Chemicals to Avoid in Skin Products
TL;DR – The Short Version
Love your skin by avoiding products that contain toxic chemicals – many of the beauty products sold in the USA include them. Even skincare bottles labelled “organic” or “natural” may still have parabens, chemicals and carcinogens lurking within them, and “natural” can simply mean plant-based but highly processed.
- Fake fragrances can lead to allergies, dermatitis and an unwanted effect on hormones – go for a natural scent such as lavender or rose instead.
- Propylene glycol (PG), a by-product of a fossil fuel found in moisturizers, shampoos and sunscreens, can cause an allergic reaction.
- Parabens are preservatives that can disrupt our natural hormones.
- Phthalates can hide under the word “fragrance”, so companies don’t have to list them.
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is known to irritate the skin and eyes.
Read the ingredients on the back of every bottle, and take most care with the cleanser and moisturizer you apply morning and night – these are the products your skin absorbs the most. Pure, natural options such as Simply Cleansing Oil and Simply Face Oil are a safer and gentler choice.
In this post:
Love your skin!
And one of the best ways to do this is to avoid products containing toxic chemicals. Such chemicals are included in many of the beauty products sold in the USA.
Your skin deserves the most natural and organic products to be used on it. And the concern is that even cosmetic and skin care bottles labelled “organic” or “natural” may still have parabens, chemicals and carcinogens lurking within them if consumers are unaware. The problem is magnified because many far more chemicals than they realize during their skincare routines night and day. Such exposure to chemicals and toxins can affect the way our bodies function, from the endocrine system to the digestive system.
Even the label of “natural” can be misleading. It can simply mean plant-based but still also mean highly processed.
The toxic ingredients that you need to avoid if you care about what you apply to your skin.
Fake Fragrances
Fake fragrances can lead to allergies, dermatitis and even have an unwanted effect on hormones. Fragrances are commonly found in moisturizers, body washes and shampoos. Instead, go for a natural scent such as lavender or rose because they are much more unlikely to cause sensitivity and irritation of the skin.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Propylene Glycol (PG) can be found in many moisturizers, shampoos and sunscreens. This by product of a fossil fuel can cause an allergic reaction - including mild conjunctivitis.
Parabens
Parabens can disrupt our natural hormones and worse. They are used as a preservative to help products last longer.
Phthalates
Phthalates is another unfortunate ingredient found in moisturizers and other products. And, because they can be included in the description of “fragrance”, companies don’t have to list what’s in it. In addition, when a company claims they want to maintain their “secret formula”, the law says they do NOT have to disclose the ingredients - even the dangerous ones.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is known to irritate the skin and eyes but also has the potential to interact and combine with other chemicals to form sinister nitrosamines.
Also read: Skin Care Can be Just as Important for Males as for Females
Going REALLY natural for the skin you’re in
Now that you know the worst of the ingredients to avoid in skincare, take the time to read through the ingredients on the back of each bottle – with an open mind.
It can be a big relief to know that it is in your hands to avoid the harmful ingredients by replacing with really natural products for your precious skin.
The products that your skin absorbs the most
These are the ones applied to your face every morning and night – namely skin cleanser and moisturizer, making them the most important for ensuring the safest possible ingredients.
What could be safer and gentler to your skin than our Simply Cleansing Oil and Simply Face Oil as well as many others in our range?
Simply Cleansing Oil
This is a gentle natural alternative to those over-the counter cleansers which may be harsh on the skin and contain unwanted chemicals and additives. Simply Cleansing Oil is made from a blend of pure natural essential oils and cold pressed or expeller pressed precious oils, acting as an emulsifier with the skin's natural sebum and gently unclogs the pores, lifting grime and imbedded impurities without stripping the skin's natural oils. The specially selected pure ingredients help to clean, tighten and tone the skin. Simply Cleansing Oil is rich in high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and powerful anti-oxidants.
Simply Face Oil
Made from a blend of pure natural essential oils and cold pressed or expeller pressed precious oils - nothing else but love, helping to tighten and tone the skin. Simply Face Oil is rich in high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and powerful anti-oxidants, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, essential fatty acids and squalene. Plant extracts contain all the nutrients our skin requires to be healthy - no need for long names you can't pronounce or chemicals and preservatives!
Also read: Are Face Oils Bad for Your Skin?
Sources
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Fragrances in Cosmetics. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Parabens in Cosmetics. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Phthalates in Cosmetics. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. “Organic” Cosmetics. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- ChemLinked. US FDA Sets November 2026 Timeline for Formaldehyde Ban and Fragrance Allergen Rule (fragrance allergen labeling under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act). 2026. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Jacob SE, Scheman A, McGowan MA. Propylene Glycol (American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year 2018). Dermatitis. 2018;29(1):3-5. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- DermNet NZ. Contact allergy to propylene glycol. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- European Medicines Agency. Sodium laurilsulfate (SLS) used as an excipient – safety review. (Accessed Oct 6, 2026)
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you experience a rash, swelling, eye irritation or any other reaction after using a skin care product, stop using it and speak to a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist.