Harsh Ingredients

Blossom Organics uses only the best all-natural ingredients to ensure your healthy well-being. Here’s a list of common, potentially hazardous ingredients we pledge never to use.

Benzoic Acid: Frequently used as a preservative, benzoic acid is naturally occurring but may also be produced synthetically. Though its hazard level is considered low, it has been linked to organ toxicity. Currently, there is not enough data to determine its safe use.

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene): BHT is a common fragrance ingredient as well as a preservative used in food and cosmetics, though it is known to have moderate toxic effects on the body. Concerns include irritation of the eyes, skin and lungs, organ system toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity. There is also limited evidence that BHT is carcinogenic (meaning it may play a role in causing cancer) and has negative effects on reproductive health.

Butylene Glycol: This ingredient has a variety of uses. While it’s often used in fragrances and as a skin-conditioning agent, it is also used as a slip agent and degreaser. While not a lot of data is available regarding its safe use on the skin or internally, it has been linked to skin and eye irritation in many individuals.

Chlorhexidine Digluconate: This compound has both preservative and antimicrobial functions. It has been deemed a moderate health risk and has been linked to allergies and immune system toxicity. Furthermore, Chlorhexidine Digluconate is thought to be toxic to both the skin and respiratory system.

Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract: While grapefruit seed extract may be a natural ingredient, that doesn’t automatically mean it is safe. The commercially available incarnations of this product are often contaminated with other ingredients, such as benzethonium chloride, parabens and triclosan, which is known to be highly toxic.

Diazolidinyl Ureas (Imidiazolidinyl Urea): Diazolidinyl Ureas is used as a preservative and acts as a formaldehyde releaser. Though often used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products, it is known to be moderately toxic and has been associated with allergies, immunotoxicity and skin toxicity.

Dimethicone: Limited data is available on dimethicone, which is suspected to be toxic to the organ systems and harmful to the environment. Until more testing has been conducted, the compound is not advisable for internal or external use.

Disodium EDTA (Tetrasodium EDTA): This ingredient is a penetration enhancer, meaning it allows for absorption into the skin more easily. While it is not itself known to be toxic, its presence in conventional personal care products can facilitate absorption of toxins present in other ingredients. Available data on this ingredient is extremely limited.

DMDM Hydantoin: This ingredient is a known skin toxicant and allergen, and there is limited evidence that it may contribute to immune system toxicity as well. More data is needed, however it has already been banned in other countries, such as Japan.

Flavor: A term used broadly to describe a number of possible ingredients—none of which are disclosed to the consumer. Because you don’t know what it is you’re applying when you use this ingredient, it’s recommended you avoid products that list this as a component.

Fragrance: Similar to flavor, “fragrance” is broadly used to describe a number of undisclosed ingredients.

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride: This compound is frequently used as a skin conditioning agent. Not enough data is available as to whether this ingredient is safe to use, but it has been linked to cancer and organ toxicity.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone: This ingredient is a preservative commonly associated with allergies. It has also been linked to skin irritation and toxicity.

Methylisothiazolinone: This preservative is even more prevalent in skin care products and cosmetics, and is recognized as a moderate health risk. This ingredient has been linked to allergies and skin irritation, but may also cause neurotoxicity.

Parabens (Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben): Parabens are antimicrobials that can be absorbed through the skin, blood and organ tissues. They have been heavily associated with cancer—especially breast cancer, making them even more of a concern for women. They have also been linked to skin irritation, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity.

PEG: PEG, also known as polyoxyethylene (100) monostearate or PEG-100 stearate, has been linked to organ system toxicity, though little data is available. Of greater concern is its risk of contamination with substances such as ethylene oxide and 1.4 dioxane, which are considered to be highly toxic and have been heavily linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity.

Phenoxyethanol: This substance is used in fragrances and as a preservative and has been linked to allergies, skin and eye irritation and organ toxicity. It may also be dangerous to the immune system.

Polyquaternium 7: This is a film-forming ingredient that has been linked to organ system toxicity and has been deemed an environmental hazard. Even more concerning, however, is its contamination risk. It is often mixed with acrylamide, which is known to be carcinogenic and has also been linked to organ system toxicity and irritation of the skin, eyes and lungs.

Propylene Glycol: This ingredient is frequently used in personal care products because it is a skin-conditioning agent as well as a moisture retainer, and is also used in many fragrances. It has been linked to organ system toxicity and is a known irritant.

SD Alcohol: This ingredient is an absorption enhancer, which means it can help other toxins seep into the skin. It has been linked to organ system and reproductive toxicity, and is also a potential carcinogen.

Sodium Benzoate: Limited data is available on this compound, which is a suspected toxic to the organ tissues. More data is currently needed to assess the true level of risk.

Sodium Hydroxide: This common ingredient has been associated with skin irritation as well as organ system toxicity.

Information provided by EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics