The No-No List

Scientific data drives every single ingredient choice. When we looked at allergen prevalence data, rates of irritant reactions, or toxicity data, these ingredients didn't make the cut. Because what you leave out is as important as what you put into the formulation...and if it's not hypoallergenic, it's not clean.

2, 6-ditert-butyl-4-cresol - BHT
(antioxidant and sometimes allergen) 

5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Acrylate Polymers 
(adhesive and sometimes allergen)

Alkyl Glucosides 
(surfactant class and sometimes allergen)

Amidoamine 
(stearamidopropyl dimethylamine) (impurity and allergen)

Ammonium Persulfate 
(bleaching agent and allergen)

Animal Derived Ingredients 
(because we love our furry and non-furry friends!)

Bakuchiol 
(plant-based antiaging ingredient and sometimes allergen)

Benzalkonium Chloride 
(preservative and common allergen) 

Benzisothiazolinone 
(common preservative allergen)

Benzoic Acid 
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Benzophenone 3/Oxybenzone 
(SPF and sometimes allergen)

Benzophenone 4 
(SPF and sometimes allergen)

Benzyl Alcohol  
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Benzyl Salicylate 
(solvent in perfumes and sometimes allergen) 

BHA 
(antioxidant and sometimes allergen)

Bisphenol A 
(contributes to plastic pollution and concerns about toxicity) 

Bithionol 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Bronopol 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Carmine 
(red pigment from cochineal and sometimes allergen; we don't use dyes)

Carvone 
(essential oil derivative and allergen) 

Cetyl steryl alcohol 
(emulsifier and sometimes allergen) 

Chlorhexidine Digluconate 
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen)

Chloroxylenol 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Cobalt 
(metal and common allergen)

Cocamide DEA 
(ethanolamines above - surfactant and sometimes allergen)

Cocamidopropyl Betaine 
(surfactant and sometimes allergen)

Colophonium 
(rosin) (natural sticky substance and sometimes allergen)

Diazolidinyl Urea 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Dimethicone 
(because smooth skin shouldn't be clogged with pores)

DMAPA 
(impurity and allergen)

DMDM hydantoin 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Dyes 
(because no one needs them)

Ethanolamines 
(e.g., cocamide DEA - surfactants and sometimes allergen)

Ethylhexylglycerin 
(humectant and sometimes allergen) 

Euxyl K 400 
(MDBGN/PE) (preservative and sometimes allergen)

Formaldehyde 
(preservative and common allergen)

Fragrances 
(not even the masking kind)

Gold 
(metal and allergen)

Hexachlorophene 
(antiseptic)

Hydroquinone 
(depigmenting agent and sometimes allergen) 

Imidazolidinyl Urea 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Lodopropynyl Butylcarbamate 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Lauryl Polyglucose 
(glucosides) Surfactant and sometimes allergen

Lead Acetate 
(impurity in color additives and toxin)

Mercury Compounds 
(neurotoxin)

Methylchloroisothiazolinone 
(common preservative allergen)

Methylisothiazolinone 
(common preservative allergen)

Microplastics 
(environmental and possible health impact)

Nickel 
(metal and common allergen)

Nitro and Polycyclic Musks 
(because no one needs these toxic fragrances)

Oleamidopropyl Dimethylamine 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

P-Chloro-M-Cresol - PCMC 
(Antiseptic and sometimes allergen)

P-phenylenediamine 
(hair dye and common allergen)

Parabens 
(because we understand the concerns about endocrine disruption)

Phenoxyethanol 
(popular preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Phthalates 
(because we understand the concerns about endocrine disruption)

Potassium Dichromate 
(metal and allergen)

Potassium Sorbate 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Pramoxine Hydrochloride 
(anti-itch compound and sometimes allergen) 

Propolis 
(bee resin and common allergen)

Propyl Gallate 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Propylene Glycol/Propanediol 
(common vehicle ingredient, irritant and allergen)

Quaternium-15 
(formaldehyde releaser)

Shellac Resin secreted by female lac bug 
(allergen) 

Sodium Benzoate 
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 
(sudsing agent and irritant) 

Sodium Metabisulfite 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Sorbic Acid 
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen) 

Sorbitan Sesquiolate 
(surfactant and sometimes allergen) 

Styrene 
(synthetic product in plastics and sometimes allergen)

Talc 
(frequently contains the carcinogen asbestos)

Thimerosal 
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Toluene 
(solvent and allergen)

Triclosan 
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen)

Vinyl Chloride 
(because no one needs carcinogens) 

Vitamin E/Tocopherol 
(common antioxidant and allergen)

"VETTED Dermlab’s skincare is the most amazing thing. I never took care of my skin before I discovered it and now I can’t live without it. Three gorgeous Bay Area female derms started the company."
7x7 Interview with Marie McCarthy, Fiat Lux
People with sensitive, reactive skin often veer toward clean skincare products because they believe they’re safer choices, but clean skincare products aren’t necessarily safer. Especially because there’s no universal definition of clean, those people may have difficulty separating out the products that work for their skin from those that don’t. In fact, Botto, Woodruff and Fox point out that plant-based ingredients popular in clean beauty products can be triggering. Essential oils, for example, tend to instigate allergic reactions. “All this causes a lot of confusion for patients and consumers,” says Woodruff. “There is so much noise in the marketplace, and consumers are constantly trying to find meaning in words and claims like ‘hypoallergenic,’ ‘clean,’ ‘natural’ and ‘dermatologist-approved,’ which all exist without concrete definition.”
Three Dermatologists Create The Brand Vetted Dermlab To Set A New Standard For Hypoallergenic Skincare
Drs. Nina Botto, Lindy Fox, and Dallas-based Carina Woodruff founded the skincare brand after seeing the harms of common allergens found in mainstream skincare products and even experiencing these issues themselves. The three women sought to make products safe to use for people with allergies that also fill the need for a luxurious self-care ritual.
Meet the Dallas Dermatologist Remaking Clean Beauty
Dr. Carina Woodruff discusses the need for greater awareness of skin protection in the light of the number of skin cancer patients.
Fighting Cancer
Dr. Lindy Fox discusses the importance of dermatology hospitalists.
Wearing Many Hays
Dr. Kamangar chats with Dr. Lindy Fox, MD, and Dr. Nina Botto, MD, about the balance between medicine and skin care products and the importance of including dermatologists in the research and creation of those skin care products.
The Future of Skincare
When it comes to skincare, more is not always more (especially when it comes to exfoliation). So the doctors behind Vetted have created a system with gentle but powerful ingredients including vitamin C and retinoids. All Vetted products are especially safe for sensitive skin. The packaging is stunning and sustainable.
6 Things That Will Set You Up For Success When The Holiday Rush Comes
Trying to define “clean” for your patients? We’ve been trying too. Luckily, this week we’re joined by Dr. Lindy Fox as she helps us define what “clean” really means for ingredients. Listen in as she helps us rethink how skin care should feel, look at ingredient labels, and how to achieve clean beauty. Each Thursday, join Dr. Raja and Dr. Hadar, board-certified dermatologists, as they share the latest evidence-based research in integrative dermatology. For access to CE/CME courses, become a member at LearnSkin.com.
Learn Skincare - Why Ingredient Integrity Matters
If there’s one thing most of us know about retinoids, it’s that they’re the powerhouses of skincare—this mighty class of ingredients can transform complexions into smooth, healthy, radiant magnificence. Beyond that, things get a little fuzzy.
How to Find the Best Retinoid for You: A Simplified Guide
Tune in to listen to one of our co-founders, Dr. Nina Botto, explain why we created VETTED Dermlab.
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VETTED Dermlab on Beauty Independent. Three dermatologists create the brand Vetted Dermlab to set a new standard for hypoallergenic skincare.
Read The Article Now
Our guest for this episode, Dr. Carina Woodruff, a board-certified dermatologist and allergy specialist, may just have the solution you're looking for. Dr. Woodruff, a co-founder of the skincare line VETTED, takes us through her journey from her personal experience with scoliosis to her passion for dermatology and allergy testing. We delve into the often overlooked topic of contact dermatitis, and the importance of patch testing before using products.
Skincare Anarchy Podcast
We all love the idea of clean beauty and people will spend a lot on products that promise just that. But did you know that clean beauty doesn’t really have a clear definition? This can make things pretty confusing for us as consumers.For some people, it may mean products without synthetic chemicals, while for others, it’s all about using natural or plant-based ingredients, or animal free testing. But because there’s no set standard, what one brand calls clean beauty may not match your definition of clean beauty. It really depends on the brand you choose, and there's no universal standard. Unfortunately, it's mostly a marketing term by brands today.Tune into this week's recap episode, where I share key insights from the latest podcast episode featuring Dr. Lindy Fox.Here’s a tip: watch out for common irritants like fragrances, certain preservatives, and essential oils, even if they’re labeled as natural. Also, don’t be fooled by fragrance-free vs. unscented. Fragrance free means no added fragrance, but “unscented” might still have masking scents. If your skin is sensitive, always check the ingredients!
Listen to the Podcast
All it takes is smoothing one to three drops of this serum with antioxidants to brighten and soothe your face after sun exposure. Dr. Goldbach, who is not affiliated with any brand, calls this her “absolute favorite right now” and touts its clean formula.
The 13 Best After-sun Lotions of 2024

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