Ingredients

I found this book called A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winder. It has definitions for thousands of ingredients contained in cosmetic products. Here are some of the definitions for ingredients in the products I've done product reviews on. I am in no way an expert on these ingredients. I just found this book to be helpful and wanted to share some of the information.

Aloe Vera - A compound expressed from the leaf of the aloe, which is a South African lilylike plant. It contains 99.5 percent water, aloins, polysaccharides including glucosans, anthraquinones, glyco proteins, sterols, saponins, albumen, essential oil, silica, phosphate of lime, a trace of iron, and organic acids. Aloe is rich in polysaccharides, galactose, plant steroids, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, and even natural antibiotics.

Althea Rood - Marshmallow Root. A natural substance from the plant grown in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The roots, flowers, and leaves are used externally as a poultice.

Amino Bispropyl Dimethicone - a conditioning ingredient in hair products. The book refers to Siloxane which is defined as D4 and D5 found in deodorants and moisturizers may be banned in cosmetics in Canada because of environmental risks.

Amyl Cinnamal - A fragrance ingredient. See Cinnamic Acid.

Angelica - Masterwort. Archangel. Medicinally, herbalists use it as an astringent, a tonic to improve circulation and warm the body, and for arthritis pain. Angelica is contraindicated in pregnancy and during menstruation, and in cases of acute gastritis, peptic ulcers, and kidney inflammations. It may also cause photosensitivity.

Babassuamidopropyl Betaine - A compound containing the fatty acids of babassu (a nondrying edible oil expressed from the kernels of the babassu palm) and betaine (occurs in common beets and in many vegetables as well as animal substances). Used as an antistatic ingredient in hair and skin products.

Balm Mint - Balm of Gilead. The secretion of any of several small evergreen African or Asian trees with leaves that yield a strong aromatic odor when bruised. Known in ancient Palestine as a soothing medication for the skin. Used in cosmetics as an unguent that soothes and heals the skin. It is also used for its fragrance in perfumes.

Barley Extract - Hordeum Districhon . Pearl Barley. Prelate. It contains proteins, promlamine, albumen, sugars, starch, fats, B vitamins, and alkaloids.

Behentrimonium methosulfate - A very mild yet effective ingredient known for its de-tangling and hair thickening properties. Because this ingredient directly deposits onto the hair follicle to smooth out the cuticles, it’s highly regarded for its conditioning abilities. It can be found in many hair products like conditioner, detangler, shampoo and styling gel. It also acts as an emulsifying agent, gentle enough to be used in baby products that are left on the skin. When used in lotions and creams, it gives a soft and powdery after-touch to the skin. (Found from truthinaging.com http://truthinaging.com/ingredients/behentrimonium-methosulfate)

Benzoic Acid - A preservative that occurs naturally in nature in cherry bark, raspberries, tea, anise, and acassia bard. Also an antifungal ingredient in cosmetics such as hair rinses.

Benzophenones (1-12) - At least a dozen different benzopheonones exist. They are used as fixatives for heavy perfumes and soaps. Obtained as a white, flaky solid with a delicate, persistent, roselike odor, and soluble in most fixed oils and in mineral oil. Also used in the manufacture of hair sprays and in sunscreens. They help prevent deterioration of ingredient that might be affected by the ultra violet rays found in ordinary daylight. May produce hives and contact sensitivity. Also may cause face and neck rashes when in shampoo. Toxic when injected. On the basis of available information, the CIR Expert Panel found it safe in the early 1980s but is considering new information to determine if the final safety assessment should be reaffirmed, amended, or have an addendum. The EU has banned benzophenone-3 in sunscreens.

Benzyl Alcohol - A preservative in hair dye. It is derived as a pure alcohol and is a constituent of jasmine, hyacinth, and other plants. It has a faint, sweet odor. Irritating and corrosive to the skin and mucous membranes. Ingestion of large doses causes intestinal upsets. In sensitive people, it may cross-react with balsam Peru.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Bergamot, Red. A pear-shaped orange whose rind yields a greenish brown oil much used in perfumery and brilliantine hairdressings. It can cause brown skin stains (berlouqe) when exposed to sunlight and is considered a prime photosensitizer (sensitivity to sunlight).

Blue 1 - A triphenylmethane color used in shampoos, skin care products, bath products, and dentifrices.

Camomile - Roman, German, and Hugarian Chamomile. The daisylike white and yellow heads of these flowers provide a coloring ingredient known as apigenin. The essential oil distilled from the flower heads is pale blue and is added to shampoos to impart the odor of chamomile. Powdered flowers are used to bring out a bright yellow color in the hair. Chamomile contains sesquiterpene lactones, which may cause allergic contact dermatitis and stomach upsets.

Camphor Oil - Distilled from trees at least fifty years old grown in China, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil and Sumatra. It can cause contact dermatitis. Used in emollient creams and hair tonics.

Canola Oil - A low eruic-acid rapeseed oil

Carbomer -934, -940, -941 - A white powder, slightly acidic, that reacts with fat particles to form thick, stable emulsions of oils in water. Used as thickening, suspending, dispersing, and emulsifying ingredients in the cosmetics field. On the basis of the available information, the CIR Expert Panel found it safe in the early 1980’s but is considering new information to determine if the final safety assessment should be reaffirmed, amended, or have an addendum.

Carregeenan - Chondrus crispus. Irish Moss. A stabilizer and emulsifier, seaweedlike in odor, derived from Irish moss, used in oils in cosmetics and foods. It is completely soluble in hot water and not coagulated by acids. Sodium carregeenan is on the FDA list for further study. Carrageenan stimulated the formation of fibrous tissue when subcutaneously injected into guinea pigs. When a single dose of it dissolved in saline was injected under the skin of rats, it caused sarcomas after approximately two years. Its cancer-causing ability may be that of a foreign body irritant, because upon administration to rats and mice at high levels in their diets, it did not appear to induce tumors, although survival of the animals for this period was not good. The final report to the FDA of the Select Committee on GRAS Substances stated in 1980 that while no evidence in the available information demonstrates it is a hazard to the public at current use levels, uncertainties exist, requiring that additional studies be conducted. Carrageenan is at this writing on the FDA lists for cancer study since it is a carcinogen in animals. The JECFA requested in 2003 that based on laboratory results, carrageenan should be restricted from infant formulas but that it is acceptable for use as a food additive for adult.

Carrot Oil - Either of two oils from the seeds of carrots. A light yellow essential oil, which has a spicy odor and is used in liqueurs, flavorings, and perfumes. Rich in vitamin A, it is also used as a coloring. A skin irritant. When heated to decomposition, it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Castor Oil - The seed of the castor-oil plant. After the oil is expressed from the beans, a residual castor pomace remains, which contains a potent allergen. This may be incorporated in fertilizer, which is the main source of exposure, but people who live near a castor-bean processing factory may also be sensitized. Ingestion of large amounts may cause pelvic congestion. Soothing to the skin.

Cetearyl Alcohol - Emulsifying wax. A mixture chiefly of the fatty alcohols – cetyl and stearyl – and used primarily in ointments as an emulsifier. Very widely used in hair tints, shampoos, and hair straighteners. The CIR Expert Panel concludes this is a safe ingredient.

Cetyl Alcohol - An emollient and emulsion stabilizer used in many cosmetic preparations including brilliantine haidressings, hair lacquers, hair straigtheners, and shampoos. Ceytl alcohol is waxy crystalline, and solid, and found in spermaceti. It has a low toxicity for both skin and ingestion and is sometimes used as a laxative.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Chlorphenesin - An alcohol used as a germicide. The UK restricts it to 0.3 percent in all products.

Chrysanthemum - Corn Marigold. A large family of perennial herbs thought to originate in Asia.

Cinnamic Acid - Occurs in storax, balsam Peru, cinnamon leaves, and coca leaves.

Citral - Used in soaps for its lemon and verbena scents. Occurs naturally in grapefruit, orange, peach, ginger, grapefruit oil, oil of lemon, and oil of lime. A light oily liquid isolated from citral oils or made synthetically.

Citric acid - One of the most widely used acids in the cosmetics industry, it is derived from citrus fruit by fermentation of crude sugars. Employed as a preservative and sequesting ingredient to adjust acid-alkali balance and as a foam inhibitor and plasticizer. It is also used as an astringent alone or in astringent compounds. The clear, crystalline, water-absorbing chemicals are also used to prevent scurvy, a deficiency disease, and as a refreshing drink with water and sugar added. Removes trace metals and brightens color in various commercial products.

Citronellol - Used in perfumes. It has a roselike odor. Occurs naturally in citronella oil, lemon oil, lemongrass oil, tea, rose oil, and geranium oil. A mild irritant.

Cocamidopropylamine Oxide - Used in the formulation of shampoos, hair dyes and colors, and other hair products. It is made from coconut oil, a vegetable oil extracted from the dried inner flesh of coconuts. The coconut oil is reacted with dimethylaminodpropylamine and further reacted with hydrogen peroxide to form Cocamidopropylamine Oxide. Definition obtained from cosmeticsinfo.org.

Coconut - The fruit of the coconut palm. The coconut consists of an outer fibrous husk enclosing a large nut that contains a white edible layer. The coconut produces a valuable oil that has been used for thousands of years.

Coconut Oil - The white, semisolid, highly saturated fat expressed from the kernels of the coconut. Widely used in the manufacture of shampoos, …, hairdressings, and soaps. Stable when exposed to air. Lathers readily and is a fine skin cleanser. Usually blended with other fats. May cause allergic skin reactions.

Coltsfoot Extract - Wild Ginger. Used for its soothing properties in shampoos and astringents. From an herb used historically to fight colds and asthma, it reputedly opens pores and allows sweating. It has been used as a soothing ointment.

Corn Oil - Used in emollient creams and toothpastes. Obtained as a by-product by wet milling the grain for use in the manufacture of cornstarch, dextrins, and yellow oil. It has a faint, characteristic odor and taste and thickens upon exposure to air, but it can cause skin reactions in the allergic. Human skin irritant and allergen. Has caused birth defects in experimental animals.

Corn Syrup - Corn Sugar. Dextrose. A sweet syrup prepared from cornstarch. Used as a texturizer and carrying ingredient in cosmetics. May cause allergic reactions.

Dimethicone -Dimethicone Copolyol. A silicone oil, white, viscous, used as an ointment base ingredient, as a topical drug vehicle, and as a skin protectant. Very low toxicity.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Ecklonia Radiata Extract - Australian Sea Kelp. Recovered from the giant Pacific marine plant Macrocystis pyrifirae… Kelp does contain many minerals…

EDTA - An important compound in cosmetics used primarily as a sequestering ingredient particularly in shampoos. It may be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes and cause allergies such as asthma and skin rashes…
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Ethyl Macadamiate - the ester of ethyl alcohol and the fatty acids derived from MacadamiaTernifolia Seed Oil (q.v.). Obtained from Skin Deep (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=702304)

Eugenol - obtained from clove oil. Because of its potential as an allergen, it is left out of hypoallergenic cosmetics.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Fatty Acids - Fatty acids are used … chiefly for making soaps and detergents. In combination with glycerin, they form fat. Necessary for normal growth and healthy skin…

Fennel Oil and Extract - One of the earliest known herbs from the tall, beautiful shrub… The fennel flowers appear in June and are bright yellow. Compresses of fennel tea are used by organic cosmeticians to soothe inflamed eyelids and watery eyes. May cause allergic reactions.

Forsythia Suspensa - Weeping forsythia is native to China. Extract of the fruit is used as an antioxidant and antibacterial.

Geraniol - Oily sweet, with a rose odor, it occurs naturally in apples, bay leaves, cherries, grapefruit, ginger, lavender, and a number of other essential oils. Geraniol is omitted from hypoallergenic cosmetics.

Ginkgo Extract - An extract of Ginko biloba. A sacred tree of the Chinese, the fruit has an offensive odor but is resistant to smoke, disease, and insects. Used… as a skin-conditioning ingredient in creams and in hair-grooming products. May be anti-inflammatory on the skin.

Ginseng - Chinese esteem ginseng as an herb of many uses. Panax comes from the Greek word panakos, meaning “panacea.” Among ginseng’s active ingredients are amino acids, essential oils, carbohydrates, peptides, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and sterols... It is used in American cosmetics as a demulcent and as a hair conditioner.

Glutamic Acid - An emulsifying ingredient in hair conditioners and skin creams.

Glycerin - Any by-product of soap manufacture, it is a sweet, warm-tasting, oil fluid obtained by adding alkalis to fats and fixed oils. A solvent, humectant and emollient in many cosmetics, it absorbs moisture from the air and, therefore, helps keep moisture in creams and other products, even if the consumer leaves the cap off the container. Also helps the products to spread better… In concentrated solutions, it is irritation to the mucous membranes, but as used it is nonirritating and nonallergenic. Draws moisture from inside the skin and holds it on the surface for a better “feel.” Dries skin from the inside out.

Honeysuckle - The common fragrant tubular flowers, filled with honey, that are used in perfumes. Honeysuckle is employed for infectious and inflammatory conditions. It is particularly useful for poison oak and other rashes. The flowers are considered harmless, but the fruits are toxic when used to excess.

Hops - Silent Night. Widely cultivated, this plant has been used in folk medicine for its calming effect on the body. Contains an estrogenlike ingredient as well as volatile oil, bitter principle, and tannin. It is used to relieve gas and cramps, and to stimulate appetite. Also used in a poultice to relieve sciatica, arthritis, toothache, and other nerve pain. It has been used to induce sleep and as a tonic in wine. Both Abraham Lincoln and England’s King George III reportedly relied on hops to promote a restful calm at bedtime. Hop flowers were listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for ninety years. Contraindicated in depressive illness because it may exacerbate the condition. Excessive doses or chronic use may cause dizziness and intoxication.

Horsetail - Shavegrass. Silica. The American Indians and the Chinese have long used horsetail to accelerate the healing of bones and wounds. Horsetail is rich in minerals the body uses to rebuild injured tissue. It facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body, which nourishes nails, skin, hair, bones, and the body's connective tissue. The herb helps eliminate excess oil from the skin and hair. It is a mild diuretic and was used to promote urination in heart failure and kidney dysfunction. The FDA issued a notice in 1992 that horsetail has not been shown to be safe and effective as claimed in OTC digestive aid products.

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein - Widely used in hair- and skin-conditioning products.

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein - The hydrolysate of wheat protein derived by acid, enzyme, or other method of hydrolysis.

Jojoba Seed Oil - Widely used in cosmetics, it is the oil extracted from the beanlike seeds of the desert shrub Simmondsia chinensis. A liquid wax used as a lubricant and as a substitute for sperm oil, carnauba wax, and beeswax. Mexicans and American Indians have long used the bean's oily wax as a hair conditioner and skin lubricant. U.S. companies are now promoting the ingredient in shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreens, and conditioners as a treatment for "crow's feet," wrinkles, stretch marks, and dry skin. May cause allergic reactions. On the basis of the available information, CIR Expert Panel concluded that it is safe as a cosmetic ingredient.

Lauramidopropyl Betaine - A synthetic compound obtained by the extensive chemical modification of lauric acid, a natural fatty acid. Used as an Antistatic agent or a surfactant. Definition obtained from Cosmetics Unmasked.

Lavender Oil - Widely used in skin fresheners, powders, shaving preparations, mouthwashes, dentifrices, and perfumes. The volatile oil from the fresh flowering lavender. Also used in a variety of food flavorings. It can cause allergic reactions and has been found to cause adverse skin reactions when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Related to the lavender plant. Fragrant, yellowish, with a camphor-lavender scent.

Lemongrass - Indian oil of Verbena. Used in perfumes, especially those added to soap. It is the volatile oil distilled from the leaves of lemon grasses. A yellowish or reddish brown liquid, it has a strong odor of verbena. Also used in insect repellents and in fruit flavorings for foods and beverages. Death was reported when taken internally, and autopsy showed lining of the intestines was severely damaged. Skin toxicity unknown.

Limonene - A synthetic flavoring ingredient that occurs naturally in star anise, buchu leaves, caraway, celery, oranges, coriander, cumin, cardamom, sweet fennel, common fennel, mace, marigold, oil of lavandin, oil of lemon, oil of mandarin, peppermint, petitgrain oil, pimento oil, orange leaf, orange peel, orgianum oil, black pepper, peels of citrus, macrocarpa bunge, and hops oil. A skin irritant and sensitizer.

Linalool - Used in soaps instead of bergamot or French lavender. It is a fragrant, colorless liquid that occurs in many essential oils such as linaloe, Ceylon cinnamon, sassafras, orange flower, and bergamot. May cause allergic reactions. Has been linked to eczema.

Linolenic Acid - Colorless, liquid glyceride found in most oils. Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents.

Linseed Oil - Linum usitatissimum. Oil used in emollients. It is the yellowish oil expressed or extracted from flaxseed. Gradually thickens when exposed to air. Can cause allergic reaction.

Macadamia Nut Oil - Queensland Nut Oil. Derived from the nut of a small evergreen tree, it is widely cultivated. Used in emollients. Contains magnesium and thiamine.

Magnolia - Sweet Bay. White Bay. Beaver Tree. Used in perfumery and emollients. A genus of North American and Asian shrubs and trees named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol. The plants have evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually snowy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers appearing in early spring. The dried bark is used in folk medicine to induce sweating and as a bitter tonic. Also employed to treat rheumatism and as a tonic. The Chinese prize magnolia as an aphrodisiac. In Mexico, the plant is used to treat scorpion stings.

Maltodextrin - The sugar obtained by hydrolysis of starch. Used as a film former, a hair and skin conditioner, and an absorbant.

Mango fruit extract - Mango butter is obtained from deshelled fruit kernels of the mango tree. It reportedly helps wound healing and is protective against UV radiation. It is a soft solid with a very slight sweet scent and can be a replacement for paraffin-based emollient. It is used in skin care products, lotions, massage creams, and hair products.

Marshmallow root - A demulcent containing up to 35 percent mucilage, it is an old-time remedy for digestive disorders. It soothes mucous membranes and has been used externally for hundreds of years as a wound healer. Marshmallow ointments and creams are used on chapped hands and lips. It is used as a mouthwash and gargle and to soothe teething infants. Herbalists claim it has general calming effect on the body.

Mauritia Flexuosa - Belonging to the palm family, its fruit oil is used as an emollient and is being studied by pharmaceutical companies.

Menthol - Used in hair tonics. It gives that “cool” feeling to the skin after use. It can be obtained naturally from peppermint or other mint oils and can be made synthetically by hydrogenation of thymol.

Methyl-Chloroisotiazolinone - A preservative used in shampoos, hair, skin, and after-shave and bath products that was taken from industry to replace formaldehyde. While it has been shown to be a sensitizer in animals, it has not been shown to be a sensitizer in humans.

Methylisothiazolinone - Widely used with methylchloroisothiazolinone as a preservative in shampoos to replace formaldehyde. Although it is a sensitizer in animals, it has not been shown to be a sensitizer in shampoos. Also used in baby products, moisturizers, body and hand preparations, and cleansing creams as well as makeup removers and suntan preparations. On the Canadian Hotlist. In Canada, it is permitted up to a maximum of 0.0015 percent in rinse-off products and 0.000075 percent in leave-on products.

Methylisothiazolinone/Methylchloroisothiazolinone - Used in cosmetics as a broad spectrum preservative. It is highly toxic in rats and rabbits orally but only moderately toxic when applied to the skin. Can be a skin sensitizer in humans. On the basis of the available data, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that it can be safely used in rinse-off products at a concentration not to exceed 15 ppm and in leave-on products at concentrations not to exceed 7.5 ppm. The stated safe use concentration refers to a mixture containing 23.3 percent methylisothiazolinone and 76.7 percent methylchloroisothiazolinone.

Mistletoe - A parasitical plant with a root firmly attached to the wood of the tree on which it grows, it was sacred to the Druids and reputedly used by them to cure sterility and epilepsy and as an antidote for poisons. Hippocrates and Galen used it as an external remedy and internally to treat sleep disorders. It is also used in “organic” cosmetics.

Olive Oil - Superior to mineral oils in penetrating power. Used in brilliantine hairdressings, emollients, eyelash oils, lipstick, nail polish removers, shampoos, soaps, face powders, and hair coloring, and antiwrinkle and massage oils. It is a pale yellow or greenish fixed oil obtained from ripe olives grown around the Mediterranean Sea. May cause allergic reactions.

Ox Bile - Oxgall. Emulsifier from the fresh bile of male castrated bovines (ewww… LOL).

Palm Oil - Astrocaryum Murumuru. Palm Butter. Palm Tallow. Oil used in baby soaps, ordinary soaps, liniments, and ointments. Obtained from the fruit or seed of the palm tree. A fatty mass with a faint violent odor.

Panthenol - Vitamin B Complex Factor. Widely used in hair products and emollients, and as a supplement in foods. It is good for human tissues.

Peppermint Oil - The oil made from the dried leaves and tops of a plant common to Asian, European, and American gardens. Peppermint is used as a flavoring in many products. Peppermint can inhibit the growth of many kinds of germs. It can, however, cause allergic reaction such as hay fever and rash. In 1992, the FDA issued a notice that peppermint and peppermint spirit have not been shown to be safe and effective as claimed in OTC digestive aid products, insect bite and sting drug products, oral menstrual drug products, and in astringent.

Phenoxyethanol - Oily liquid with a faint aromatic odor and a burning taste derived from treating phenol with ethylene oxide in an alkaline medium. Widely used as a fixative for perfumes, bactericide, insect repellent, and topical antiseptic. Also used as a fragrance. It is in many cosmetics, including hair sprays, bubble baths, eye lotions, skin and body preparations, makeup, makeup removers, and shampoos. Undiluted, it is a strong eye irritant but is not irritating when diluted at 2.2 percent. Has not been found to be a skin irritant or sensitizer. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that it is safe as a cosmetic ingredient as currently used.

Phenyl Trimethicone - Silicone oil used as a skin protectant and to give it gloss. It is treated to make it water repellent. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that it is safe as a cosmetic ingredient as currently used.

Polyquaternium 1 through 14 - Antistatic ingredients and film formers.

Polysorbate-20 - A mixture of laurate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides. It is used in facial moisturizers/treatments, anti-aging products, facial cleansers, hair color and bleaching products, foundations, body washes/cleansers, sunscreens SPF 15 and above, shampoos, styling gel/lotions, and moisturizers. The environmental working group SkinDeep says there is concern about this ingredient because: “One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses.” The CIR Expert Panel reviewed data showing that polysorbates were not mutagens or complete carcinogens. The available data indicated that these ingredients were used in numerous preparations without clinical reports of significant adverse effects.

Potassium Sorbate - Used as a mold and yeast inhibitor. May cause mild irritation of the skin.

Propylene Glycol - An organic alcohol, it is one of the most widely used cosmetic ingredients. It is the most common moisture carrying vehicle other than water itself in cosmetics. It has better permeation through the skin than glycerin and is less expensive, although it has been linked to more sensitivity reactions. Absorbs moisture and act as a solvent and a wetting ingredient. Propylene glycols attract water and function as moisturizers to enhance the appearance of skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness. Polypropylene Glycols (PPG), including PPG-9, PPG-12, PPG-15, PPG-17, PPG-20, PPG-26, PPG-30, and PPG-34, are polymers of propylene glycol and water. The number in the name represents the average number of units of propylene glycol in the compound. The CIR Expert Panel says, based on available data, it is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in concentrations up to 50 percent. It has been reported to cause allergic reactions.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Pomegranate - Punica granatum. An extract of the fruit pomegrantate. Modern scientists have found that the skin of the fruit contains tannins, which from other plants have long been used in sunscreen preparations, eye lotions, and antiperspirants.

PVP - 1-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone. Widely used in the production of cosmetics such as a fixative, film former, and emulsion stabilizer.

Rose Hips Extract - Hipberries. An extract of the fruit of various species of wild roses, it is rich in Vitamin C and is used as a natural flavoring. Widely used by organic food enthusiasts as a tonic, to ward off colds, and ease constipation.

Rosemary Oil - Used in perfumery. The flowers and leaves of the plant are a symbol of love and loyalty. Rosemary oil is the volatile oil from the fresh flowering tops of rosemary and is used in liniments and hair tonics. Colorless to yellow, with the characteristic odor of rosemary and a warm camphor-like taste. Rosemary has the folk reputation of stimulating the growth of hair and is used in rinse water. An antioxidant, it reportedly has anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties; it supposedly is also beneficial to the skin. It is used internally as a tonic and astringent, and by herbalists as a stimulant for the nerves. Nontoxic when used externally. Irritant. May cause allergic dermatitis and photosensitivity in some people.

Sage Oil - Obtained by steam distillation from the flowering tops of the plant believed by the Arabs to prevent dying. A pale yellow liquid that smells and tastes like camphor. Used to cover gray hair in some rinses and as an astringent in skin fresheners and steam baths. Supposedly has healing power.

Shea Butter - The natural fat obtained from the fruit of the karite tree. Also called karite butter, it is widely used in moisturizers, suntan gels and creams, cleansing products, indoor tanning preparations, hair conditioners, hair tonics, and lipsticks.

Slippery elm - Bark from the North American elm. Fragrant and sticky, it contains much mucilage and powder. Used as a demulcent.

Sodium Chloride - Common table salt.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate – The sodium salt of the coconut-fatty acid ester of isethionic acid. Used as a cleansing ingredient. On the basis of the animal and clinical data, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that it is safe as a cosmetic ingredient up to 50 percent in rinse-off products and at 17 percent in leave-on products. See Coconut Oil.

Sodium Gluconate - Made from glucose by fermentation, a white to yellowish powder, it is used in conditioners and shampoos. One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at high doses (low-dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient).

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate - Cleanser in shampoos, bath soaps, coloring, and other hair products. See Ox Bile and Coconut Oil.

St. John's Wort Oil - Hypericum perforatum. Amber. Blessed. Devil's Scourge. God's Wonder Herb. Grace of God. Goatweed. Hypericum Klamath Weed. A perennial native to Britain, Europe, and Asia, it is now found throughout North America. The plant contains glycosides (sugar compounds), volatile oil, tannin, resin, and pectin. It is used in "organic" cosmetics. It was believed to have infinite healing powers derived from the saint, the red juice representing his blood. It was used as an antivenereal. The oil is used for burns. The FDA listed Saint John's wort as an "unsafe herb" in 1977. Te FDA issued a notice in 1992 that Saint John's has not been shown to be safe and effective as claimed in OTC digestive products. That does not mean, however, that it cannot be used for other purposes.

Stearic Acid - Occurs naturally in butter acids, tallow, cascarilla bark, and other animal fats and oils. A white, waxy, natural fatty acid, it is the major ingredient used in making bar soap and lubricants. A large percentage of all cosmetic creams on the market contain it. It is a possible sensitizer for allergic people.

Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine - Refers to Dimethylamine which has the following definition; prepared from methanol and ammonia, it is used in the manufacture of soaps and detergents. It also promotes hardening of plastic nails. Irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.

Stearyl Alcohol - A mixture of solid alcohols prepared from sperm whale oil. Unctuous, white flakes, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol and ether. Can be prepared from sperm whale oil. A substitute for cetyl alcohol to obtain a firmer product at ordinary temperatures. Used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetic creams, for emulsions, and as a antifoam ingredient, and a lubricant; also in depilatories, hair rinses, and shampoos. Has reportedly caused allergic reactions.

Sweet Almond Oil - Used in perfumes and in the manufacture of fine soaps and emollients. Expressed from the seeds of a plant. Colorless or pale yellow, oily liquid, almost odorless, with a bland taste. Insoluble in water. On the basis of available information, the CIR Expert Panel found it safe in the early 1980s. In 2002, as part of the scheduled reevaluation of ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

Tapioca Starch - Used as a thickener.

Tetrasodium EDTA - Powdered sodium salt that reacts with metals. A sequestering ingredient and chelating ingredient used in cosmetic solutions. Can deplete the body of calcium if taken internally.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Tocopherol - Vitamin E. Widely used in hair-grooming aids. Obtained by vacuum distillation of edible vegetable oils.

Tomato Extract - Solanum Lycopersicum. Extract from the fruit of the tomato. Used as a fungicide and as a precipitating ingredient.

Triethanolamine - A coating ingredient for fresh fruit and vegetables and widely used in surfactants and as a dispersing ingredient and detergent in hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos, and bath powders. Its principal toxic effect in animals has been attributed to overalkalinity. Gross pathology has been found in the gastrointestinal tract in fatally poised guinea pigs. It is an irritant. It has been found, in tests in Italy at the University of Bologna, to be the most frequent sensitizer among the common emulsifiers used in cosmetics. On the basis of available information the CIR Expert Panel concluded that is it safe as presently used in cosmetic formulation but in products intended for prolonged contact with the skin, the concentration should not exceed 5 percent and be used only in rinse-off products. Should not be used with nitrosating ingredients.
On The Green Beauty Guide list of top 100 toxic cosmetic ingredients you don’t want in your beauty products.

Vanilla Panifolia Fruit Extract – Used in perfumes and flavorings. Extracted from the full-grown unripe fruit of the vanilla plant of Mexico and the West Indies.

Vegetable Glycerin - Products made of plants such as avocado instead of animal-derived glycerin.

Vinegar - Used for hundreds of years to remove lime soap after shampooing. It is a solvent for cosmetic oils and resins. Vinegar is about 4 to 6 percent acetic acid. Acetic acid occurs naturally in apples, cheese, grapes, milk, and other foods.

Vitamin A - A yellow, viscous liquid insoluble in water. Used in lubricating creams and oils for its alleged skin-healing properties. Can be absorbed through the skin.

Vitamin C - A preservative and antioxidant widely used in cosmetic creams, particularly bleach and lemon creams and soaps, hair dyes and conditioners.

Vitamin E - Widely used antioxidant in baby preparations, deodorants, and hair-grooming aids. Obtained by the vacuum distillation of edible vegetable oils. Used as a dietary supplement and as an antioxidant for essential oils and fats. Helps form normal red blood cells, muscle, and other tissues. Protects fat in the body's tissues from abnormal breakdown. Experimental evidence shows vitamin E may protect the heart and blood vessels and retard aging. May cause a skin rash.

Water - The major constituent of all living matter and the ingredient used most in the cosmetics industry. Because of this fact, the industry fought labeling that required listing ingredients in descending order since water would be first most of the time. However, listing in descending order is now required. It is important that water used in cosmetics be sterile to avoid contamination of the product. Manufacturers may also have to soften water in some areas because of the high mineral content that may affect the texture and appearance of the finished product.

Wheat Germ Oil - Used in hair conditioners, emollients, and solvents. On the basis of available information, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that it is safe as presently used in cosmetic formulations.

Yarrow - A strong-scented, spicy, wild herb used in astringents and shampoos. Its astringent qualities have caused it to be recommended by herbalists for greasy skins. According to old herbal recipes, it prevents baldness when the hair is washed regularly with it. Used medicinally as an astringent, tonic, and stimulant. May cause a sensitivity to sunlight and artificial light, in which the skin breaks out and swells.

Yellow #11 - Coal tar coloring used in hair products, nail polishes, moisturizers, suntan gels, fragrances, and body and hand preparations.

Ylang Ylang - A light yellow, very fragrant liquid obtained in the Philippines from flowers. Used for perfumes and as a food and beverage flavoring. May cause allergic reactions.