Cosmetics and the FDA  

Haircare products and other cosmetics do not need preapproval by the FDA to be sold in stores. 

Although ingredients must be listed on the label, there are no specific safety tests or reporting requirements for individual products, ingredients, or cosmetic companies. Thus, it is possible for toxic products to make it to the marketplace.  

 

Ingredients to avoid  

See the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) full list of ingredients to avoid. Or, read more below.

  • Phthalates can cause low sperm count in males and infertility in women. 
  • Parabens are endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in the human body. Parabens can interfere with human sexual hormone production, affecting reproductive development in men and women. Common parabens found in hair products are ethyl paraben, butylparaben, isobutyl paraben, isopropyl paraben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. 
  • Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are commonly used in hair care products as preservatives. They release a carcinogen called formaldehyde. These formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are also known to cause eye irritation, skin irritation, lung irritation, and immunotoxicity. Look out for names like Dimethyl Imidazolidinedione, Imdiazolidinyl/Diazolidinyl Urea, or DMDM Hydantoin,  
  • Fragrances are of special concern because their ingredients are often undisclosed. Although the FDA does require companies to list ingredients on the product label, there is a special exception for the chemicals that make up fragrances. Most companies will just list “fragrance or parfum” because the fragrance is most likely made up of many different chemical ingredients, which the companies want to protect as “trade secrets.” In some products, the fragrance is called "parfum." 

 

Resources for Black residents 

Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project to learn more about chemicals that might be lurking in products formulated specifically for Black hair and skin: Black Beauty Project (safecosmetics.org) 

 

Other best practices 

Create a basic personal care routine with trusted products. 

Pick product(s) carefully. Do not try new products without researching the ingredients. 

Ingredients are listed on a product label in order of highest concentration to lowest.  

Explore the following databases, from trusted third-party sources, for easy ways to find non-toxic products: 

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