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)


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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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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.
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We are elated to announce that our very own Dr. Lindy Fox has been awarded one of the Best Dermatologists in the U.S. by News Week Magazine.
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