The average person applies 9 personal care products every day, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, makeup, SPF. What most people don't know is that those 9 products contain an average of 126 unique chemical ingredients. And your skin absorbs up to 60% of everything you put on it, directly into your bloodstream.
This isn't fear-mongering. It's chemistry. And once you understand what's actually in most conventional skincare and haircare products, and what those ingredients are doing to your cells, you can't unsee it.
Here's what to look for on every label you pick up from this point forward.
THE NUMBERS
126 — Average unique chemicals applied to skin daily across 9 personal care products
11% — Of cosmetic ingredients that have been assessed for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel
1,400+ — Cosmetic ingredients banned by the EU. The United States has banned just 11.
THE INGREDIENTS
10 ingredients to remove from your routine, starting today.
01 — Parabens
Found in: moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, body wash, makeup
Parabens are synthetic preservatives used to extend shelf life. They mimic estrogen in the body and have been found in breast cancer tissue. They disrupt your endocrine system, the network of glands and hormones that regulate nearly every function in your body, including your skin's oil production, collagen synthesis, and cellular repair cycle.
02 — Synthetic Fragrances
Found in: almost everything, moisturizers, cleansers, haircare, deodorant, body wash
"Fragrance" on an ingredient label is a legally protected trade secret that can contain up to 3,000 undisclosed chemicals, including known allergens, hormone disruptors, and carcinogens. It is the single most common cause of contact dermatitis and skin sensitization. If a product lists "fragrance" or "parfum" and doesn't disclose what's in it, put it down.
03 — Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Found in: shampoos, facial cleansers, body wash, toothpaste
SLS is a detergent and surfactant that creates lather. It strips your skin and scalp of their natural oils, disrupts the moisture barrier, and triggers inflammatory responses. Regular use damages the skin barrier over time, leaving skin unable to retain moisture or defend against environmental toxins, the exact opposite of what a cleanser should do.
04 — Phthalates
Found in: nail polish, hair spray, fragranced products, some moisturizers
Phthalates are plasticizers used to make products more flexible and help fragrance last longer. They are classified as endocrine disruptors. They interfere with hormone signaling in ways linked to reproductive issues, thyroid disruption, and increased cancer risk. Like parabens, they are often hidden inside the "fragrance" listing.
05 — Formaldehyde & Formaldehyde Releasers
Found in: nail products, hair straightening treatments, some preservative systems
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. Many products don't list it directly but use preservatives that release formaldehyde over time, including DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15. These compounds slowly off-gas formaldehyde onto your skin with every application.
06 — Mineral Oil & Petrolatum
Found in: baby oil, moisturizers, lip balms, hair products, body lotions
Mineral oil and petrolatum are byproducts of petroleum refining. They create a film on the skin that locks in moisture but also locks out nutrients, preventing your skin from absorbing anything beneficial applied on top. They don't nourish. They coat. And they can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are classified as possible carcinogens.
07 — Silicones (Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane)
Found in: primers, foundations, hair serums, moisturizers, conditioners
Silicones create a smooth, silky feel and make products seem like they're working. In reality, they sit on the surface of your skin and hair, creating a barrier that blocks real nutrients from penetrating. They also trap dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria beneath that barrier, contributing to congestion and breakouts over time.
08 — Oxybenzone (Chemical SPF)
Found in: chemical sunscreens, some moisturizers with SPF
Oxybenzone absorbs UV light but also absorbs into your bloodstream. Studies have detected it in blood, urine, and breast milk after a single application. It is a known hormone disruptor and has been banned in Hawaii and several other jurisdictions due to its impact on coral reefs. Mineral SPF (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sits on top of the skin and doesn't absorb, always the safer choice.
09 — PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols)
Found in: creams, moisturizers, cleansers
PEGs are petroleum-derived compounds used as thickeners, solvents, and penetration enhancers. The penetration enhancement is the problem. PEGs don't just penetrate themselves, they increase the absorption of everything around them, including other harmful ingredients in the same formula. They can also be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, both classified as carcinogens.
10 — Artificial Colors (FD&C Dyes)
Found in: makeup, lipstick, eyeshadow, shampoo, body wash
Artificial colors are derived from coal tar or petroleum and are used purely for aesthetics. They do nothing for your skin. Many FD&C dyes are contaminated with heavy metals including lead, arsenic, and mercury. Several have been linked to skin sensitization, hyperactivity, and cancer in animal studies. A product that needs artificial color to be appealing is hiding something behind the appearance.
HOW TO READ A LABEL
What to look for before you buy anything.
Ingredients are listed by concentration
The first five ingredients make up the majority of the formula. If water and a petroleum derivative are numbers one and two, the rest doesn't matter much.
"Fragrance" hides everything
If you see "fragrance" or "parfum" anywhere on the list, you have no idea what's actually in the product. It can legally contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.
Natural doesn't mean safe
"Natural" is not a regulated term. A product can be 95% petrochemicals and still legally call itself natural. Read the full ingredient list, not the marketing.
The shorter the list, the better
A 40-ingredient formula is almost always hiding fillers, synthetic preservatives, and stabilizers. Food-grade skincare doesn't need 40 ingredients to work.
Look for these red flags
Paraben, sulfate, phthalate, -cone (silicone), PEG-, oxybenzone, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, FD&C + any color.
Use EWG's Skin Deep database
EWG.org/skindeep lets you search any product or ingredient and see its safety rating. Free, easy, and eye-opening, especially for products you've been using for years.
KPS WAS BUILT BECAUSE OF THIS LIST.
Every ingredient in every KPS product meets a food-grade standard. If we wouldn't eat it, it doesn't touch your skin. No parabens, no synthetic fragrances, no sulfates, no silicones, no petrochemicals, not as a marketing claim, but as a formulation principle that has never changed since the first product we made. Your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you put on it. We take that seriously.
Explore KPS Essentials at kpsessentials.com
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!