The Top Makeup Brands to Avoid: The Hidden Dangers in Cosmetics
Whether you’re going for a full face or a simple blush and some gloss, your makeup choice has the power to affect your health.
Over the years, we’ve discovered a lot about the chemicals found in cosmetics from our skincare routine to our favorite eyeshadow.
But even with new research pointing to the risks of certain chemicals, some makeup brands refuse to make safe consumer-friendly makeup.
The good news is that while some makeup brands put your health at risk, there’s other brands that prioritize it.
Let’s discuss the top makeup brands to avoid and why💄
TL;DR
Top Makeup Brands to Avoid
- Maybelline
- NYX
- Cover Girl
- Urban Decay (by L’Oreal)
- Wet N Wild
These makeup brands make products using harmful substances like PFAS, Formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, synthetic dyes, fragrances, asbestos, and heavy metals, all linked to various health risks ranging from skin irritation to even endocrine disruption and cancer. 👎🏽
Harmful Substances Found in Makeup💄
First, let’s get into what makes certain makeup products harmful.
While there are actually a lot of chemicals used in cosmetics that are up for debate we’re only going to cover the materials known to be toxic and should be avoided at all costs.
- PFAS “Forever Chemicals“ – linked to altered metabolism and increased cancer risk.
- Asbestos found in Talc – Asbestos, a deadly carcinogen.
- Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives – Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and Paraformaldehyde and Methylene glycol(both forms of formaldehyde and, Quaternium 15(formaldehyde releasing agent)
- Azo Dyes – Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, and other Azo dyes are linked to metabolic and genotoxic health effects.
- Parabens – Including Isobutyl and isopropyl parabens. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors.
- Fragrance(parfum) – An umbrella term for over 4,000 chemicals hidden in the word “fragrance/parfum, some linked to endocrine disruption, developmental challenges, and reproductive issues.
- Phthalates – Including dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates
- Heavy metals – Like lead and mercury
These are some of the chemicals found in some makeup products that we suggest avoiding because they are linked to different health effects ranging from skin irritation and respiratory problems to endocrine disruption and cancer.
You may be asking yourself, “Why in the world are these substances allowed in cosmetics?”
Well, the problem with the cosmetic industry is that it’s underregulated. In fact, it’s not very regulated at all…There are over 10,000 chemicals used to make cosmetics but only just 11 have been banned or restricted by the FDA.
“Chemicals and contaminants linked to cancer can be found in food, water and many other everyday products. However, no category of consumer products is subject to less government oversight than cosmetics and other personal care products”
Environmental Working Group
Top Makeup Brands to Avoid (and Why)🚫
Alright, so now that you know what to look for in toxic makeup brands you should avoid, let’s get into the worst makeup brands that ranked as the most toxic based on their ingredients.
Top Makeup Brands to Avoid
- Maybelline
- NYX
- Cover Girl
- Urban Decay (by L’Oreal)
- Wet N Wild
These brands use at least one of the toxic chemicals we listed.
Take a look at the graphic below, that shows an example of a product from each of these makeup brands. You can see there’s talc, synthetic dyes, fragrances, heavy metals, phthalates, parabens, and even more chemicals that are harmful to consumers.
While not every single product from these brands is toxic, it’s important to understand that if a company is willing to sell harmful products they don’t care about consumer health and they definitely don’t deserve your money.
Toxic Makeup Brands: Product Example
Now get ready because I’m gonna step on some toes here…
Those aren’t the only makeup brands that sell toxic makeup products.
Below I’ve listed more makeup brands that have flagged as including one or more harmful substances in at least some of their products.
| E.L.F. | BH Cosmetics | Chanel | Huda Beauty | Mary Kay | M.A.C (by Estee Lauder) | Fenty Beauty (by Rihanna) |
| NARS | Amore Pacific | Estee Lauder | L.A. Girl | Signature Minerals | Pur Cosmetics | Tarte Sugar Rush by Tarte |
| Estee Lauder | Sonia Kashuk | Essence | The Body Shop | The Makeup Box | Revlon | Lancome |
| BH Cosmetics | Benefit | Farmasi | Milani Amore Cosmetics | Melaleuca | Motives | Palladio Beauty |
| Armani | Jeffree Star | Florence By Mills | Josie Marin Argon Oil | Salty Girl | Smith and Colt | Stila |
Now even though that’s a lot of brands, it still doesn’t include every brand that makes toxic makeup products. I suggest using helpful resources like EWG Skin Deep guide to safer personal care products.
It’s a super helpful database that helps you see the full ingredient list and safety levels in cosmetic products that are thoroughly researched and analyzed by the Environmental Working Group. It even tells you how toxic something is and how severe or mild the risk is.
Now you may be thinking okay now that I’ve literally named pretty much every major makeup brand as containing harmful substances, what else is left? 😭
Well, the good news is that, now that we’ve weeded through all the brands we want to avoid, we can focus on the brands we want to look for and how to recognize them!🔎
How to Recognize Safe Cosmetics
As consumers, we’ve got to get comfortable with reading labels and using our resources.
Too often we buy products that look safe or products we trust because our friends use them. And trust me I get it, I’ve been there before but it’s not beneficial for anyone(except the companies selling the products👎🏽)…
One of those resources you have at your fingertips is one we’ve already discussed, EWG’s Skin Deep Database, but there’s actually more!
Here’s a list of databases and resources you can use to check your personal care products.
You should also look for certifications to make sure you’re getting a cosmetic product that aligns with important safety standards.
Look for certifications like…
- EWG Verified – Products meet strict health and safety criteria, avoiding hazardous ingredients.
- USDA Organic – Contains at least 95% organic ingredients, free from synthetic pesticides and chemicals.
- B Corp Certification – Recognizes companies for their social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
- Ecocert – Ensures products are made with natural and organic ingredients, promoting environmental respect.
- Natrue – Guarantees natural and organic ingredients, with sustainable practices and no synthetic additives.
- COSMOS Organic / COSMOS Natural – High environmental and health standards for natural and organic cosmetics.
Lastly, Greenwashing is a big problem in the cosmetic industry…
Companies will try all sorts of tactics to try and get you to buy products you think are safe and eco-friendly when in reality their far from it.
Final Thoughts💋
Don’t settle for makeup brands that put your health at risk. Sometimes that means investing a little more and sometimes that means spending some extra time in the makeup aisle reading labels.
Regardless, your health is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Just because a makeup brand is more expensive does not mean it will be safer. Sometimes cleaner products can be more pricier but you should never base a product’s safety level on how expensive or inexpensive it is.
Yes, the “Think Dirty” app allows users to scan makeup products to check their ingredients for potential toxins.
