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 it's not hypoallergenic, it's not clean.

fragrances
(not even the masking kind)

propolis
(bee resin and common allergen)

propylene glycol/propanediol
(common vehicle ingredient, irritant and allergen)

vitamin E/tocopherol
(common antioxidant and allergen)

phenoxyethanol
(popular preservative and sometimes allergen) 

methylisothiazolinone
(common preservative allergen)

methylchloroisothiazolinone
(common preservative allergen)

formaldehyde
(preservative and common allergen)

DMDM hydantoin
(formaldehyde releaser)

imidazolidinyl urea
(formaldehyde releaser)

diazolidinyl urea
(formaldehyde releaser)

quaternium-15
(formaldehyde releaser)

bronopol
(formaldehyde releaser)

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

microplastics
(environmental and possible health impact)

benzisothiazolinone
(common preservative allergen)

dyes
(because no one needs them)

parabens
(because we understand the concerns about endocrine disruption)

phthalates
(because we understand the concerns about endocrine disruption)

sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(too irritant)

cocamidopropyl betaine
(surfactant and sometimes allergen)

alkyl glucosides
(surfactant class and sometimes allergen)

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

nickel
(metal and common allergen)

cobalt
(metal and common allergen)

talc
(frequently contains the carcinogen asbestos)

vinyl chloride
(because no one needs carcinogens) 

propyl gallate
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

nitro and polycyclic musks
(because no one needs these toxic fragrances)

animal derived ingredients
(because we love our furry and non-furry friends!)

bithionol
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

hexachlorophene
(antiseptic)

mercury compounds
(neurotoxin)

acrylate polymers
(adhesive and sometimes allergen)

thimerosal
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

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

benzophenone 3/oxybenzone
(SPF and sometimes allergen)

benzophenone 4
(SPF and sometimes allergen)

hydroquinone
(depigmenting agent and sometimes allergen) 

styrene
(synthetic product in plastics and sometimes allergen)

cocamide DEA
(ethanolamines above - surfactant and sometimes allergen)

BHA
(antioxidant and sometimes allergen)

lead acetate
(impurity in color additives and toxin)

triclosan
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen)

toluene
(solvent and allergen)

bakuchiol
(plant-based antiaging ingredient and sometimes allergen)

nickel
(metal and common allergen)

cobalt
(metal and common allergen)

p-phenylenediamine
(hair dye and common allergen)

oleamidopropyl dimethylamine
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

sodium metabisulfite
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

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

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

DMAPA
(impurity and allergen)

Amidoamine
(stearamidopropyl dimethylamine) (impurity and allergen)

Ammonium persulfate
(bleaching agent and allergen)

Potassium sorbate
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Potassium dichromate
(metal and allergen)

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

Carvone
(essential oil derivative and allergen) 

Chlorhexidine digluconate
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen)

Chloroxylenol
(preservative and sometimes allergen)

Ethylhexylglycerin
(humectant and sometimes allergen) 

Gold
(metal and allergen)

Benzalkonium chloride
(preservative and common allergen) 

Sodium benzoate
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Sorbic acid
(antiseptic and sometimes allergen) 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
(sudsing agent and irritant) 

sorbitan sesquiolate
(surfactant and sometimes allergen) 

benzoic acid
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

phenoxyethanol
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

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

Benzyl alcohol 
(preservative and sometimes allergen) 

Cetyl steryl alcohol
(emulsifier and sometimes allergen) 

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

Benzyl salicylate
(solvent in perfumes and sometimes allergen) 

Pramoxine hydrochloride
(anti-itch compound and sometimes allergen) 

Shellac
(resin secreted by female lac bug; allergen) 

Lauryl polyglucose
(glucosides) (surfactant and sometimes allergen)

p-chloro-m-cresol
(PCMC) (antiseptic and sometimes allergen) 


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Much of the marketing suggests that they’re safer than more traditional underarm products, but that hype is not based on science.
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