“Not-So-Clean” Skincare: 15 Common Ingredients We Skip (and What to Use Instead)

A quick word on “clean”

“Clean” isn’t a regulated term. Our bar is simple: fewer questionable chemistries, more skin-native nourishment, full label clarity. If it stresses the skin barrier or adds avoidable risk, we skip it.

The List: 15 “Not-So-Clean” Ingredients (and Label Clues)

1. PEGs / Ethoxylated compounds
   Used for: emulsifying, slip, solubilizing.
   Concerns: can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane (a manufacturing by-product); can increase penetration on compromised skin.
   Label clues: PEG-8, PEG-40, PEG-100 stearate, ceteareth-20, laureth-7, steareth-21.

2. Parabens
   Used for: preservation.
   Concerns: many shoppers avoid due to endocrine-disruption debates; easy swaps exist.
   Label clues: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben.

3. Phthalates
   Used for: plasticizers; often hidden in fragrance.
   Concerns: exposure concerns; lack of label transparency when bundled as “fragrance.”
   Label clues: diethyl phthalate (DEP); avoid generic “fragrance/parfum.”

4. Synthetic fragrance / “Parfum”
   Used for: scent.
   Concerns: umbrella term for thousands of compounds; top trigger for sensitivity.
   Label clues: fragrance, parfum, aroma.

5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
   Used for: preservation.
   Concerns: slow-release formaldehyde; sensitization concerns.
   Label clues: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol.

6. Triclosan / Triclocarban
   Used for: antibacterial.
   Concerns: largely phased out; persistence and resistance concerns.
   Label clues: triclosan, triclocarban.

7. BHA / BHT (butylated hydroxyanisole/toluene)
   Used for: antioxidants/stabilizers.
   Concerns: controversial safety profiles; easy to replace.
   Label clues: BHA, BHT.

8. Certain chemical UV filters
   Used for: sunscreen.
   Concerns: irritation for sensitive skin; environmental questions for some filters.
   Label clues: oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene.
   (Tip: choose mineral filters like zinc oxide for face.)

9. Silicones (especially cyclics D4/D5)
   Used for: slip, “blurring,” occlusion.
   Concerns: buildup; can mask dryness; some cyclics flagged for environmental persistence.
   Label clues: dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclotetrasiloxane (D4).

10. Mineral oil / Petrolatum (petroleum jelly)
    Used for: occlusion.
    Concerns: inert occlusion without nutrients; not harmful per se, just not our philosophy.
    Label clues: mineral oil, paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum.

11. EDTA chelators
    Used for: stability in hard water.
    Concerns: environmental persistence; easy to swap.
    Label clues: disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA.

12. SLS/SLES (sulfates)
    Used for: foaming/cleansing.
    Concerns: can be harsh/stripping for sensitive skin.
    Label clues: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate.

13. Phenoxyethanol (at higher loads)
    Used for: preservation.
    Concerns: generally accepted ≤1%, but some sensitive skin reacts—especially with damaged barrier.
    Label clues: phenoxyethanol.

14. PFAS / “Forever chemicals”
    Used for: slip, long-wear film formers (often makeup).
    Concerns: persistence and bioaccumulation.
    Label clues: anything with “perfluoro-” or “polyfluoro-”, PTFE.

15. Artificial colors & microplastics
    Used for: tint, texture, film.
    Concerns: irritation (dyes); environmental load (microplastics).
    Label clues: FD&C colors, D&C colors; polyethylene, acrylates copolymer, nylon-1

How to read a label in 30 seconds

• Scan the first 5–7 ingredients. That’s most of the formula.

• Hunt for the red flags above (PEG-, -eth, -oxynol, parabens, “fragrance”).

• Prefer full INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) transparency over marketing claims.

• Choose barrier-first bases (lipids your skin recognizes).

What Garden Club uses instead (and why it works)

• Grass-fed, grass-finished organic tallow — mirrors skin’s own lipids; locks in hydration; naturally rich in vitamins A, D, E, K.

• Organic calendula oil — calms visible redness; supports regeneration.

• Certified organic black seed & arnica oils — soothing, restorative botanicals.

• Manuka, rosemary, and orange essential oils — purifying + antioxidant support (light, not perfumey).

• Calcium bentonite clay & blue spirulina — clarify and defend against daily stressors.

We leave out: PEGs, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, silicones, and seed oils. Result: hydration that lasts, a calmer barrier, and a glow that doesn’t quit.

 Make the clean swap: Garden Club Tallow Creams  — elegant, effective, and label-honest. Shop now.