How toxic is your skincare and which red-flag ingredients to watch

Experts report many everyday skincare products contain ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, PFAS, certain preservatives and fragrances that have been linked to skin irritation, allergic reactions and endocrine concerns; certification bodies like the Soil Association and COSMOS are cited as ways to identify products that exclude some of these ingredients.

Many people use several skincare products daily without fully checking long ingredient lists. Recent reporting and expert comment highlight that common ingredients — including parabens, phthalates, PFAS and some preservatives and solvents — appear in many products. Clinicians and researchers note links between these ingredients and skin irritation, allergies or endocrine effects, and say cumulative exposure is a concern for some people. Certification schemes and ingredient checkers are mentioned as tools some consumers use to identify products with fewer of these ingredients. Key points: - Parabens, phthalates and PFAS are named in the reporting as ingredients that can persist and have been linked with endocrine concerns or long-term persistence in the body. - Fragrance or parfum often hides multiple synthetic components and is a common cause of cosmetic allergy and irritation. - Preservatives and solvents such as phenoxyethanol, dipropylene glycol and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are reported to cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people. - The Soil Association and COSMOS certifications are described as excluding certain controversial ingredients and listing approved brands. Summary: Experts described potential impacts on the skin barrier, increased allergic reactions in some users, and possible wider endocrine concerns reported in research. Undetermined at this time.