Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Shampoo

Octinoxate also called Octyl methoxycinnamate or (OMC) is a UV filter. It can be detected in human urine, breast milk and our blood because it is rapidly absorbed through the skin.  Octinoxate mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function including organ and reproductive system toxicity.

Oxybenzone or benzophenone are common ingredients in sunscreen. Benzophenone is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT). These chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and organ system toxicity. It also is linked to the destruction of coral reefs.

What to Look for on the label: Octinoxate, o methoxycinnamate (OMC), parsol, parsol MCX, parsol MOX, escalol, 2-ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone, ingredients containing the word benzophenone (for example benzophenone-2), BP# (for example BP2), oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, sulisobenzone sodium

Note: Check the label for OGX Shampoo as some contain octinoxate listed as ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE.

Formaldehyde is present in many personal care products and considered a carcinogen.  Most people become exposed to it by inhaling it from hair dyes and also by absorption through the skin.  It is linked to Leukemia and allergies. Formaldehyde has been banned from use in cosmetics in Japan and Sweden.The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) listformaldehyde in keratin treatments as dangerous as repeated exposure can cause cancer.

What to Look for on the label: Formaldehyde, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea,  and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a cleansing agent used in skin-care products. It’s an additive that allows cleansing products to foam and removes unpleasant oily buildup in your hair. With long term use, it can strip your hair of its natural oils and creates a dry, frizzy texture. There is not much substantive research on the long term cumulative effects or its safety, so some experts say it is safe and some recommend avoiding it. At concentrations of higher than 2%, it can become irritating, however in shampoos this ingredient is rinsed out.  It’s best to look for a safer alternative such as  sodium coco sulfate which is a derivative of coconuts.

What to Look for on the label: sodium dodecyl sulfate, sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium, sodium salt, sodium salt sulfuric acid, aquarex me or aquarex methyl, salt, AI3-00356, Akyposal SD, aquarex me, aquarex methyl and sulfuric acid monododecyl estersodium salt.

Note: Pantene Pro V has sodium lauryl sulfate. 

Parabens are used as preservatives in Shampoo to prevent the growth of microbes. It is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that is absorbed through skin. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) these chemicals basically copy your body´s own hormones when it is rubbed on your body or washed down the drain seeping into your drinking water. This can disrupt your body´s endocrine system including the hypothalamus, ovaries and thyroid. Over time, frequent use of parabens is thought to cause an increased risk of breast cancer.

What to Look for on the label: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and ethylparaben

Recommended: Jason shampoos have no parabens, no sodium lauryl sulfate, no ethanolomines, no octinoxate, no oxybenzone, no benzophene