BestIndian™ Luxuries

BEAUTY CARE FOR MOVIESTARS

Movie stars' beauty is their most valuable possession. Actors & actresses use the best makeup products while shooting, but even the best of makeup damages the skin which can age prematurely and appear dull and lifeless. The dry confines of air-conditioned studio floors and the harsh, sunny and dusty outdoor sets are both equally harmful for their skin.

BestIndian Luxuries' range of essential skin care luxuries, formulated from the nurturing and nourishing magic of nature, is the solution to the above and more. Optimum skincare is only possible only when it's free of harmful chemicals and is derived from plants. BestIndian™ Beauty Care Luxuries ensure that movie stars’ stunning looks keep getting enhanced, and their beauty never fades away.

BestIndian™ Luxuries aren’t merely the best, but also the safest cosmetics products in the world, as every BestIndian product has set new benchmarks for the world’s cosmetics industry by raising the bar to hitherto unreached quality and safety levels. BestIndian™ products are 100% free of Paraben and Alcohol because of the brand’s commitment towards creating the safest beauty and personal care products in the world. BestIndian™ creates products which are free of all possible harmful artificial ingredients.

BestIndian Beauty care luxuries are used for enhancing the beauty of movie stars; therefore each product has been created after years of meticulous research, and countless rounds of ground breaking laboratory experiments. For years, our dedicated teams of scientists, researchers, laboratory technicians, botanists, microbiologists, cosmetologists, skin care experts and Doctors worked together in perfect sync with one common aim- to create the safest, best and the most trusted products for beauty enhancement, maintenance, and overall wellness. All BestIndian™ luxuries are made in accordance with the laws of Ayurveda, and the guidelines provided in scriptures like Ashtangsangriha, Sushrut Samhita, Charak Samhita, etc

Multiple rounds of quality checks and process quality assurance ensures that every BestIndian™ luxury not just meets the strictest norms, but easily surpasses them. Our mission is to not only meet the accepted norms of the industry, but to enhance these norms and inspire other brands to make product safety and transparency their topmpst priority. All BestIndian™ luxuries are made in 100% compliance with the norms of the Govt. Of India and the provisions of the United States Federal Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act., in a state-of-the-art non-polluting manufacturing facility, in the midst of pristine Himalayas in Dehradun, India.

ALL BESTINDIAN™ PRODUCTS ARE GUARANTEED FOR THE FOLLOWING :

• Guaranteed Natural
• Guaranteed Organic
• Guaranteed CDSCO and FDA compliant
• Guaranteed FDA approved ingredients
• Guaranteed of GMP
• Guaranteed ISO 9001:2015
• Guaranteed free of Paraben
• Guaranteed free of sulphates
• Guaranteed free of alcohol
• Guaranteed Cruelty Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
• Guaranteed free of Mineral Oil
• Guaranteed free of Artificial Colors
• Guaranteed free of Phthalates:
• Guaranteed free of Formaldehyde
• Guaranteed free of PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)
• Guaranteed free of Animal Ingredients

ALL INGREDIENTS DISCLOSED - NO HIDDEN INGREDIENT

BestIndian™ believes in, and practices absolute transparency. We have set an example for the rest of the Beauty care companies and cosmetics brands by disclosing “All Ingredients” used in all BestIndian™ products, and hope that all other companies and beauty care brands follow our example to make safe cosmetics safe for everyone in the world. In the light of the frequent and intimate nature of the contact on skin and mucosa with Cosmetics & Beauty Care products, it is crucially important that they do not contain any potentially dangerous substances, whatsoever.

BestIndian™: Certified Organic & Natural

All BestIndian Beauty care Luxuries are certified organic, in addition to being natural. Harmful chemicals are absorbed by the skin, which is the largest organ of the human body. Therefore it is not enough for a cosmetic brand to be natural, without also being 100% organic. Cosmetics which are prepared from natural ingredients which have not been grown organically end up doing as much harm as artificial chemical based cosmetics. The world is fast realizing the dangers of using pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow agricultural and herbal produce. Plants act like a sieve and absorb every chemical, good or bad, provided to it during its growing phase. Resultantly, carcinogens are introduced in the human body when human beings use products and food made from plants which have been grown using synthetic fertilizers.

BestIndian ™ Natural Beauty Care products are made amidst Himalayas in Uttarakhand:

BestIndian™ beauty care and wellness luxuries are manufactured in pollution free and pristine surroundings, amidst majestic Himalayan mountain range. All herbs used in BestIndian™ products are grown organically by our trusted farmers, which helps uplift the local economy. Other farmers of the region have been inspired by our ‘Grow Organic’ campaign, and have started boycotting synthetic fertilizers. This has helped in organic rejuvenation of vast areas of farmlands spanning across several villages.

The efficiency of natural ingredients based cosmetics products depends on the freshness of the ingredients used. BestIndian™ products’ potency is the highest in the cosmetics industry which is a result of using the freshest of ingredients. All are farms are located close to our manufacturing facility to ensure that our products are made with the freshest possible ingredients. Herbs are harvested early in the morning, and are transported with care and efficiency to ensure that the herbs reach our state of the art manufacturing facility, within three hours of harvesting. It’s almost like using ingredients from your own kitchen garden.

Our modern manufacturing facility meets and surpasses all quality norms of ISO 9001, and is GMP certified. Our in house research and experiments are conducted in state of the art labs incorporating the latest scientific advances, to create our trademarked formulations. Our scientists are reputed to be the experts of the industry, and share a common passion to introduce the world to the magical possibilities of nature based products.

Alcohol-free Perfumes made in Kannauj

Kannauj in India had been known to the ancient civilizations of the world, as the perfume capital of the world. Perfumes were at the top of the luxuries exported from India, and as Pliny the elder mentioned, the majority of the gold of the various ancient kingdoms of the world was spent in importing perfumes made in India.

Indian fragrances were exported to the kings & nobility of ancient civilizations including the Egyptian pharaohs, Caesars of Roman Empire and later to senators of Roman Republic, to Tapputi of Mesopotamia to Babylon, Sumeria, Swarnbhoomi, Tamraparni, etc. Evidence from Achaemenid and Graeco-Roman history establish that Indian perfumes were famous throughout the known world for their complexity and quality.

The history of perfumery in India dates back millennia to the pre Vedic time period. In a remarkable archaeological discovery in 1975, archaeologist Dr Paolo Rovesti discovered a terracotta distillation apparatus in the Indus valley, together with oil containers made of the same material, carbon dated to 3000 BCE.

Perfumery making in ancient India was an art form, perfected over the span of millennia. Indian perfumes were all natural, made from herbs and plant extracts, using unique distillation processes. BestIndian™ has recreated the perfumes of ancient India by diligently following the ancient methods. Our state of the art perfumery meets the latest scientific certifications, while strictly adhering to the ancient Indian methodology of natural perfume creation.

CARBON NEUTRAL CERTIFIED

BestIndian ™ is the industry leader in setting new parameters for environment protection and preservation, because existing parameters are not proving to be sufficient to protect the environment. Various studies have shown that instead of reduction, there has been an increase in the speed of environmental degradation, in spite of climate activism and media’s attention.

BestIndian™ is harnessing the power and reach of business to create a more sustainable world. We’re on a mission to enhance the planet, not just maintain it, therefore we make real change possible—reducing carbon emissions, conserving forests and biodiversity, and improving health and livelihoods. BestIndian™ respects The Carbon Neutral Protocol by meeting all guidelines for businesses to achieve carbon neutrality.

BESTINDIAN™ Luxuries are proudly Carbon Neutral Certified & are created by respecting the environment during all stages of manufacturing. Environment protection and preservation forms the core of BestIndian™ ethos which is exhibited in the Urban forest called Atal Vatika.

ATAL VATIKA URBAN FOREST & ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

Atal Vatika is an urban forest created in Dehradun, by Mr. Nitin Sahrawat, Founder Director of BestIndian, by planting and nurturing hundreds of rare native Indian Fruit & Ayurvedic trees in Dehradun, India. The once barren, lifeless & trash filled ravine has now turned into a mini City forest, hosting a Self-sustaining ecosystem comprising numerous species of birds, mammals and reptiles.

25% OF ALL ANNUAL PROFITS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE

BestIndian™ is a medium for change and believes in all round development of all sections of the society, protection of nature, conservation of wildlife, and empathy for animals. BestIndian™ doesn’t believe in advertising on television or in buying followers on social media, and refuses to hire the services of Celebrities, Actors, or cricketers as the BestIndian™ brand ambassadors. BestIndian™ doesn’t send out free sample products to get favourable reviews by influencers.

BestIndian™ has made a name for itself on its inherent merits, and has earned its goodwill and reputation due to the quality of its products and user satisfaction, instead of resorting to artificial brand building by paid promotion of the brand.

(1) To provide employment to Indian youth by setting up Studios for animation & filmmaking in India:

Digital Content in general, and animation in particular have immense potential for generating employment. BestIndian™ plans on starting animation and film studios in smaller towns, particularly in the neglected regions of India. Youth from the hinterland should be provided equal career opportunities and awareness as those from the metropolitan cities, to help prevent migration.

(2) To set up animal rescue shelters for the helpless stray and abandoned animals including cows, dogs, mules etc:

India had always been known for the beautiful and harmonious coexistence between humans and numerous animal species. However, in recent times there has been a rapid rise in human-animal conflicts. Helpless stray and abandoned animals need to be treated with empathy, and at the same time safety of vulnerable humans including children and the elderly needs to be taken into account. BestIndian™ plans to set up animal rescue, welfare and rehabilitation centres, in all those Indian towns which lack this facility.

(3) To create more urban forests in India by planting native Indian fruit and Ayurvedic trees:
Rapid and often unplanned urbanization has resulted in an India urban scape which is devoid of greenery. Unless cities include development of nature in their development plans, Indian cities would continue suffering intense heat waves, dust storms, unbreathable winter air, smog, etc. BestIndian™ has created Atal Vatika, an urban forest In Dehradun, by planting numerous native Indian trees, and plans to create numerous more such Vatikas in as many cities and towns as possible.

BestIndian™ is the trade name of QuiteLit Digital Media (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

BestIndian™ Luxuries aren’t merely the best, but also the safest cosmetics in the world. Every BestIndian product has set new benchmarks for the world’s cosmetics industry by raising the bar to hitherto unreached quality and safety levels. BestIndian beauty care luxuries are used for enhancing the beauty of movie stars; therefore each product has been created after years of meticulous research, and countless rounds of ground breaking laboratory experiments. For years, our dedicated teams of scientists, researchers, technicians, botanists, microbiologists, cosmetologists, skin care experts and doctors worked together in perfect sync with one common aim- to create the safest, best and the most trusted products for beauty enhancement, maintenance, and over-all wellness.

Multiple rounds of quality checks, and process quality assurance ensures that every BestIndian™ product not just meets the quality norms, but surpasses them. Our aim is not only to meet the practiced and accepted norms of the industry, but to set new norms for the industry to adhere to, by inspiring other brands to make product safety and transparency, an absolute non-negotiable. All BestIndian™ luxuries are made in compliance with the norms of the Govt. of India and also meet all the provisions of the United States Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act., in a state of the art non polluting manufacturing facility located in the midst of pollution free environment of the Himalayas in India.

BestIndian™ has become synonymous with safety and trust because of the reasons listed below:

• Guaranteed CDSCO and FDA compliant
• Guaranteed FDA approved ingredients
• Guaranteed of GMP
• Guaranteed ISO 9001:2015
• Guaranteed free of Paraben
• Guaranteed free of sulphates
• Guaranteed free of alcohol
• Guaranteed Cruelty Free, Vegan*, Vegetarian
• Guaranteed free of Mineral Oil
• Guaranteed free of Artificial Colors
• Guaranteed free of Phthalates: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21315328/
• Guaranteed free of Formaldehyde
• Guaranteed free of PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)
• Guaranteed free of Animal Ingredients

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification demonstrates BestIndian™ commitment to meeting the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction. ISO 9001:2015 is the most respected, recognized and implemented quality management system standard in the world. It can be defined as the standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS) that organizations can use to develop their own programs. ISO 9001 was first published in 1987 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), an international agency composed of the national standards bodies of more than 160 countries. Certification to the ISO 9001 standard enhances an organization’s credibility by showing customers that its products and services meet expectations. The certification process includes implementing the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and then completing a successful registrar’s audit confirming the organization meets those requirements. BestIndian™ uses the standard to demonstrate our ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Many cosmetic companies including some of the most prestigious brands all contain ingredients that may cause you harm and even potentially cause cancer. To minimalize your exposure to these potentially dangerous ingredients make sure you read the labels and ensure you do not use any product that may contain any of the ingredients listed below:

(1) Confirmed Human Cancer Causing Agents

• Phenylenediamines (Coal tar ingredients)
• Saccharin
• Mineral Oil (Paraffin Oil)
• Petrolatum (soft paraffins)
• FD&C No 1, No 5 and No 6  artificial colors
• Fragrances that contain benzene, aldehydes or toluene

(2) Hidden Cancer Causing Agents – These ingredients can either (a) form cancerous nitrosamines (b) be contaminated with carcinogenic impurities such as dioxin or nitrosamines or (c) release cancerous formaldehyde.

• Category A – Cocamide DEA, Stearamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, Padimate-O.
• Category B – Polyethylene glycols (PEGs), polysorbates 60 and 80
• Category C – Formaldehyde, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15.

(3) Suspected Cancer Causing Agents

• Polyvinylpyrrolidone, fluoride, oxybenzone, benzophenone-3, parabens

(4) Other common problems

• Propylene glycol – produces allergic reactions, hormone disrupter
• Aspartame – artificial sweetener found to be a potent neurotoxin.
• Sodium Benzoate – preservative that causes allergies and asthma.
• Parabens – preservatives with estrogenic activity, hormone disrupters
• Dimethicone – a silicon that is harmful to eyes, skin, and possibly cause lung,throat and endocrine cancer.
• Phthalates – solvents that are hormone disrupters
• Waxes/Heavy Oils – clog pores or make the skin feel oily which can cause blemishes
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – estrogenic activity, irritant to mucosal membranes

All products manufactured by BestIndian™ are formulated so that they do not contain any harmful ingredient including those listed above. We guarantee that all BestIndian™ products are certified organic, natural, free of all harmful chemicals and are herbal & Ayurveda centric formulations.

Individuals who are allergic to any herb, or plants’ products such as nuts etc., should read the ingredients list of all our natural products before usage to ensure that the product doesn’t contain any natural ingredient which the user might be allergic to. BestIndian™ recommends that a Patch Test should be conducted on a small area of the skin, prior to the first usage of any product.

ALL INGREDIENTS DISCLOSED - NO HIDDEN INGREDIENT

BestIndian™ believes in, and practices absolute transparency. We have set an example for the rest of the beauty care companies and cosmetics brands by disclosing “All Ingredients” used in BestIndian™ products, and hope that all other companies and beauty care brands follow our example to make cosmetics safe for everyone in the world. In the light of the frequent and intimate nature of the contact on skin and mucosa with cosmetics & beauty care products, it is crucially important that they do not contain any potentially dangerous substances, whatsoever.

Law doesn’t require disclosure of “All Ingredients” in cosmetics:

By law, cosmetics and personal care products manufacturing companies are not required to disclose every ingredient used by them in a product. As a result, companies choose to disclose only those ingredients which may be beneficial, while hiding the ingredients which are known to be toxic at higher concentration. As a matter of fact, the use of many potentially harmful substances is allowed within certain limits by the regulating authorities, even though they are toxic at higher concentrations. This is extremely unfair to the users of the product because they have the right to know about every ingredient used in the product they are using, no matter how minute the ingredient’s concentration and percentage maybe. Users have a right to know about every harmful chemical which get absorbed into their skin when they apply the beauty care product.

Ingredients on Labels

Labelling represents an important part of a cosmetic product packaging, from both the regulatory and marketing view. Each country has its own regulatory framework, including specific labelling requirements. Product labelling includes various information, but one of the most important parts of the labelling is definitely an ingredient list, which informs the customers about product composition.

Product composition

In most countries including the US, the ingredient list does not have to include incidental ingredients, which are defined as:

• Any processing aid added and removed or converted to a declared ingredient
• Any ingredient of another ingredient or processing aid present at an insignificant level and having no technical or functional effect.

In case the product includes any 'trade secret ingredients', which have been accepted by US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as exempt from public disclosure, they do not have to be listed on the label. In place of their name, it is allowed to use the phrase 'and other ingredients' at the end of the ingredient list.

Hardly any beauty care brand or company reveals “all ingredients” used in their products, and in the guise of protecting ‘the secrets of their products’ prefer hiding the complete list of all ingredients used in their product. BestIndian™, however, believes in revealing everything and hiding nothing. Profits in the lieu of trade secrets cannot take precedence over public health and wellbeing.

Difference between “All Ingredients” and “Ingredients”

• There is no legal requirement for cosmetic companies to disclose all ingredients which have been used in the manufacturing of their product.
• Therefore almost all companies manufacturing beauty care products never list each and every ingredient, and choose to omit some ingredients.
• However, not all acts of such omissions are innocent. In majority of cases, companies displaying Ingredients list, instead of All Ingredients list, have something sinister to hide.
• Usually the Ingredients being hidden are notorious for being harmful. Beauty care and cosmetics industry is infamous for using harmful.

Dangers of not disclosing “All Ingredients”

• Hidden Ingredients’ long-term effects should be considered.
• Hidden Ingredients may induce several acute adverse side-effects, i.e. contact dermatitis and allergic reactions.
• The everyday use and continuous exposition of humans to a wide range of personal care products and to different kinds of chemicals, derived from several sources, may cause the so-called “cocktail effect” due to the synergistic interaction of different substances and, also, the “additive effect” because of the presence of the same ingredient in many products.

BestIndian™ : Certified Organic & Natural

All BestIndian beauty care luxuries are certified organic, in addition to being natural. All herbs used in BestIndian™ products are grown organically by our trusted farmers, which helps uplift the local economy. Other farmers of the region have been inspired by our ‘Grow Organic’ campaign, and have started boycotting synthetic fertilizers. This has helped in organic rejuvenation of vast areas of farmlands spanning across several villages.

The efficiency of natural ingredients based cosmetics products depends on the freshness of the ingredients used. BestIndian™ products’ potency is the highest in the cosmetics industry which is a result of using the freshest ingredients. All are farms are located close to our manufacturing facility to ensure that our products are made with the freshest possible ingredients. Herbs are harvested early in the morning, and are transported with care and efficiency to ensure that the herbs reach our state of the art manufacturing facility, within three hours of harvesting. It’s almost like using ingredients from your own kitchen garden.

The world is fast realizing the dangers of using pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow agricultural and herbal produce. Plants act like a sieve and absorb every chemical, good or bad, provided to it during its growing phase. Resultantly, carcinogens are introduced in the human body when human beings use products and food made from plants which have been grown using synthetic fertilizers. Harmful chemicals are absorbed by the skin, which is the largest organ of the human body. Therefore it is not enough for a cosmetic brand to be natural, without also being 100% organic. Cosmetics which are prepared from natural ingredients which have not been grown organically end up doing as much harm as artificial chemical based cosmetics.

Numerous in-depth scientific studies published in the National Library of Medicine, by the government of the United States of America's National Center for Biotechnology Information, have highlighted the dangers of using chemical based Cosmetics. The associated health risks include increased prevalence of breast and testicular cancer, and greater occurrence of reproductive and developmental problems. Extracts from some of them are as follows:

(1) Chemical Exposures: The Ugly Side of Beauty Products 

In recent decades reproductive and developmental problems have become more prevalent—for example, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that male reproductive problems, including undescended testicles and hypospadias, doubled between 1970 and 1993. Environmental chemicals are strongly suspected to be contributing factors. Several recent reports highlight the presence of low-level concentrations of potential reproductive or developmental toxicants, particularly phthalates, in cosmetics and personal care products.

(2) Skin safety and health prevention: an overview of chemicals in cosmetic products 

Our skin is the largest surface of the body interacting with external environment, and is both involuntarily exposed to abiotic and biotic factors, and voluntarily, due to personal care and cosmetic products use. Many of these are used or applied on a daily basis and in different ways, in the good faith assumption that these products are harmless for our body’s health. In the light of the frequent and intimate nature of the contact on skin and mucosa with these products, it is important that they do not contain potentially dangerous substances. 

The use of many substances as ingredients in cosmetics is allowed strictly within certain limits, due to their toxicity at higher concentrations. However, even in small concentration, these substances may induce several acute adverse side-effects, including contact dermatitis. Moreover, the everyday use and continuous exposition of humans to a wide range of personal care products and to different kinds of chemicals, derived from several sources, may cause the so-called “cocktail effect” due to the synergistic interaction of different substances and, also, the “additive effect” because of the presence of the same ingredient in many products. Other important aspects should be considered as, for instance, the possibility of long-term effects.

As the world is progressively becoming aware of the dangers of chemical products, India can become a hub of natural products which would help create jobs, and also Help the farmers of India. Farming sector is responsible for 70 % of jobs in India and if we want to create a developed India then we would need to adapt fertilizer free and organic farming methods. Our ground water is getting depleted due to over farming of sugarcane etc., we need to educate farmers that they can earn more profit if they switch to herbs and Ayurvedic plants grown organically.

DANGERS OF CHEMICAL BASED COSMETICS

In June 2004, Environment California issued a report called Growing Up Toxic: Chemical Exposures and Increases in Developmental Diseases, which details chemicals found in consumer products and their potential health impacts. Other reports released around the same time by the Environmental Working Group (Skin Deep: A Safety Assessment of Ingredients in Personal Care Products) and Friends of the Earth (Shop Till You Drop? Survey of High Street Retailers on Risky Chemicals in Products 2003–2004) support Environment California’s publication.

According to these reports, makeup, shampoo, skin lotion, nail polish, and other personal care products contain chemical ingredients that lack safety data. Moreover, some of these chemicals (primarily phthalates) have been linked in studies to male genital birth defects, decreased sperm counts, and altered pregnancy outcomes. Phthalates, as key components in plastics, appear in many consumer products. The main phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products are dibutyl phthalate in nail polish, diethyl phthalate in perfumes and lotions, and dimethyl phthalate in hair spray. Often, their presence is not noted on labels.

For example, a population study conducted by the CDC and published in the March 2004 issue of EHP demonstrated that 97% of 2,540 individuals tested had been exposed to one or more phthalates. Another preliminary study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the July 2003 issue of EHP showed a correlation between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and DNA damage in human sperm.

Cocktail effect:
The current legislations all over the world subject many substances to a threshold concentration, but there is a potential “cocktail effect” due to the utilization of combined products during the course of the day. In addition, the same substance can be found in more than one product and can derive from different sources (“additive effect”), in this way, the safety threshold established could be overcome. For example, we can think about formaldehyde which is found in a variety of consumer products: clothing, plastics, dry cleaning agents, paper, glue, drywall board, resins, wood panelling, etc. It is necessary to improve the legislative approach, since there are chemicals whose use is not completely safe, but is still allowed.

Some harmful Ingredients used by Cosmetics Brands:
‌Some of the chemical ingredients listed on product labels are known to be harmful. Knowing which ones to watch out for can help you reduce or limit your exposure to these harmful chemicals:

• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). BHA and BHT are chemical compounds used as antioxidants and preservatives in cosmetic preparations.
• Diethanolamine, or DEA. DEA is used as a foaming agent and emulsifier. It was linked to cancer in animal tests from a 1998 study, but the same study did not establish a link between DEA and the risk of cancer in humans.
• Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Formaldehyde, also known as formalin and methylene glycol, can be found in hair smoothing products.
  Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are used to prevent the formation of bacteria. You'll also see them under the names DMDM hydantoin, polyoxymethylene urea, diazolidinyl urea, bromopol, imidazolidinyl urea, glyoxal, methenamine, quaternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Reported reactions to formaldehyde and related ingredients include eye irritations, wheezing, headaches, sore throat, nausea, skin rashes, and irritation. At higher levels or with prolonged exposure, the products have been linked to cancer.
• Parabens. Parabens, used as a preservative in cosmetics, have been linked to skin irritations, endocrine disruption, and harm to the reproductive system.
• ‌Fragrance ingredients. Companies do not need to disclose fragrance ingredients by law, as these are seen as "trade secrets." But as with all other ingredients, companies do need to ensure the safety of the ingredients before they are released to the market.
• Polyethylene glycols, or PEG compounds. Polyethylene glycols have a variety of uses in cosmetic care preparations, but have been linked to various types of cancer.
• Petrolatum or petroleum jelly. Petrolatum in unrefined form can contain toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
• Siloxanes or silicones. Some siloxane compounds are considered toxic and can harm hormone function.
• ‌Sodium laureth sulfate, or SLS. SLS can cause irritations to the skin and eyes and is known to contain toxic ingredients.
• Triclosan. Triclosan is an ingredient that helps prevent or reduce bacterial contamination. Short-term animal studies show links to a decrease in thyroid hormones, but the effect in humans has not been established. The FDA has declared that triclosan in certain over-the-counter health care antiseptic products is not generally recognized as safe and effective due to insufficient data, but they recommend that health care personnel continue to use the currently available products, consistent with infection control guidelines.