Beauty’s Dark Side: Toxic Ingredients in Your Cosmetic Products

Unlike drugs and medications, cosmetics and beauty products don’t need to be approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Clinical trials aren’t required to verify safety or effectiveness.

To help protect you and your family, we’ve identified five of the most dangerous ingredients in beauty products, the health problems they’re linked to and what to look for on product labels. We also provide tips to lower your risk of exposure to toxic chemicals in beauty products.

Formaldehyde may be added directly into beauty products as a preservative or released from other included preservatives. It might appear in certain beauty product ingredient lists, especially chemical hair straighteners, as methylene glycol.

Phthalates function as plasticizers to increase flexibility in cosmetics like nail polish and hairspray. They are also used as solvents in fragrances.

These chemicals can appear as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP).

“Phthalates are usually used to make fragrance last longer, so they can be found in perfumes, body sprays, lotions and scented body wash,” Dr. Mollie Kelly-Tufman, a biochemist and founder of the Beauty Lab, told Drugwatch.

The FDA does not have any evidence that phthalates in beauty products are a safety risk. However, some are banned in Europe, where they are recognized as endocrine disruptors toxic for reproduction.

“The U.S. FDA has no authority to require premarket data for chemical ingredients of products defined as ‘cosmetics,’ including verification of ingredient claims such as ‘phthalate free,’” Dr. Michael S. Bloom, a professor of global and community health at George Mason University College of Public Health, told Drugwatch.

In cosmetics, parabens are used as preservatives. They’re often used in combination with other preservatives to prevent microorganisms from growing.

“Parabens are usually used to prevent mold and bacteria and can be in the same products as phthalates but also in wipes, sunscreen and foundations,” said Kelly-Tufman.

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used in various products. Because they take a long time to break down, they are often called “forever chemicals.”

PFAS are added to beauty products because they increase product durability, spreadability and wear. They can also improve the appearance and texture of skin and increase skin absorption.

“[PFAS] are widely used in consumer goods, including personal care products, cosmetics and household cleaners. Laboratory studies have shown that some of these chemicals can disrupt hormone function, induce oxidative stress and inflammation and exhibit neurotoxic effects,” said Bloom.

In one study in Ecotoxicology and Public Health, researchers looked at 231 cosmetics. The highest percentages of fluorine (an indicator of PFAS use) were found in products like foundations (63%), eye products (58%), lip products (55%) and mascaras (47%).

Toluene is a solvent used in nail products. It also has a few variations used in hair dyes, such as toluene-2,5-diamine, toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate salt and toluene-3,4-diamine.

PTDS was named 2025 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society because it may be an underdiagnosed allergen.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review determined that toluene was safe at levels used in nail polish. However, it’s being phased out, and the number of toluene-containing products has dropped sharply.

Talc is a natural mineral that’s used in cosmetics to absorb moisture, make facial makeup appear opaque or improve the feel of a product.

However, talc often occurs naturally near asbestos, a mineral that is a well-known carcinogen. Consequently, some talc may be contaminated with asbestos during mining.

In 2020, a study in Environmental Health Insights found that 3 out of 21 powder-based cosmetic products were contaminated with asbestos. However, in 2024, the FDA said no asbestos was detected in 50 samples of talc-containing cosmetics tested in 2023.

Whitney Ray Di Bona, an attorney and consumer safety advocate with Drugwatch, first started looking into “clean beauty” and cosmetic safety after she represented women who developed cancer from using cosmetic powder products.

“As a lawyer, I was shocked. How can there be so little safety testing, and why do we permit the use of so many ingredients that are banned elsewhere?” Di Bona said. “Most people are unaware that the FDA doesn’t require companies to test cosmetics for safety before they reach the shelves.”

Product Spotlight: Are Talcum Powder Injuries Underreported?

Talcum powder made the news after women began filing lawsuits claiming that it led them to develop ovarian cancer.

We searched the FDA’s FAERS database for the word “talc.” The search yielded 216 products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.

From January 1, 2007, to December 8, 2025, the FDA received 4,162 reports of adverse events related to talcum powder. In that same timeframe, Drugwatch received more than 7,300 reports of injuries, such as ovarian cancer, from talcum powder.

Comparing our data against the FDA’s, it appears that talcum powder injuries may be underreported to the FDA.

Because their bodies are still developing, children may be more vulnerable to toxic ingredients in makeup and beauty products. Yet many products are marketed to children.

In a study in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers found 79% of children used makeup and body products marketed to kids in their lifetime. Products included face paint, body glitter, lip gloss, foundation, nail polish, nail stickers, spray-on hair color, and perfumes or body sprays.

Naturopathic physician Dr. Rachel Marynowski has seen a growing number of young girls with thyroid imbalances in her practice.

“As with any hormonal concern, there’s rarely a single cause, but a growing body of research, and our clinical experience and observation, makes it increasingly evident that exposure to environmental chemicals and toxins, especially those known to affect the endocrine system, are playing a significant role,” Marynowski said.

While many factors can contribute to hormone imbalances, Marynowski said acknowledging environmental influences can help support early detection and thoughtful decisions about reducing exposure.

Regulatory actions for cosmetic safety have been mixed. In September 2025, the FDA launched its real-time FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Public Dashboard for Cosmetic Products. This allows the public to check adverse events related to cosmetic products, which is a step forward in empowering consumers.

On the other hand, the FDA announced it was withdrawing its proposed rule on testing for asbestos in talc-based cosmetics in November 2025.

“It’s hard to believe this isn’t required, especially since we know talc mines can be contaminated with asbestos,” said Di Bona.

As a consumer, you can keep yourself safe by staying informed, reading labels and supporting legislation aimed at making cosmetics safer.

“Alongside reviewing product labels, [consumers should consider] researching and keeping informed about hazards associated with chemicals or ingredients with adverse side effects, complaints or reports of products using reputable sources. Products with significant complaints should be avoided,” said Dr. Christa Wright, Director of Toxicology at the Center for Toxicology and Human Health with UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights.

You can also support legislation aimed at making cosmetics safer. For example, U.S. Representatives Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, Ayanna Pressley and Jan Schakowsky introduced the Safer Beauty Bill Package in July 2025.

The package of four bills includes requirements for stronger ingredient disclosures on labels and more funding for research and education on toxic chemicals. You might be able to help these bills pass by contacting your representative to show your support.