Concern: A neurotoxin that can lead to learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQbeauty Young children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerablebeauty
Use: Color stabilizer
Where: Lipstick, hair conditioner, hair color for men, face paint for children
The FDA in 2012 found lead in 400 lipstick brands with Maybelline and L'Oreal having the highest contentbeauty Of the 400 lipsticks tested, 380 tested above 0beauty1 ppm, which is the FDA's upper limit for lead in candybeauty The Maybelline and L'Oreal shades had 70 times more than thatbeauty
CHEMICAL: FORMALDEHYDE
Concern: Carcinogen linked to several cancers, including leukemia
Use: Preservative
Where: Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives have been found in shampoos, body washes and baby productsbeauty Wet n Wild brand nail polish and some nail hardeners and eyelash glue contain formaldehydebeauty
CHEMICAL: PHTHALATES
What they are: a group of chemicals; the most widely used in beauty products are dibutyl and diethyl phthalatesbeauty
Concern: Phthalates act as a hormone disrupter, impacting the reproductive systembeauty Studies have connected phthalates to infertility, sperm production decrease, premature birth, obesity and birth defectsbeauty
FDA: "It's not clear what effect, if any, phthalates have on healthbeauty"
Use: To prevent nail polish from cracking, to keep hair products flexible after applied to hair, to hold the scent in perfume and as a solvent for oilsbeauty
Where: Fragrances, soaps, hand and body lotion, shampoos, sunscreen, hair spray, hair gel, hair mousse, deodorant, body wash and nail polishbeauty The Skin Deep database shows about 66 products with dibutyl phthalatesbeauty
CHEMICAL: TRICLOSAN
Concern: Linked to changes in hormone levels and increased risk of cancer, especially breast and prostate cancersbeauty
FDA: "Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humansbeauty"
Use: Preservative
Where: Antibacterial soap, body wash, shave gel, face wash, deodorant, mascara, blush, eye shadow, hand and foot cream, and about 17 types of Colgate toothpastebeauty Procter & Gamble, manufacturer of more than 50 beauty brands, pledged to remove triclosan from products by 2014beauty
CHEMICAL: MERCURY
Concern: Toxic to the human nervous system, potentially harming the reproductive and cardiovascular systemsbeauty
According to the FDA, mercury "can damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young childrenbeauty The FDA warns "consumers not to use skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, or lotions that might contain mercurybeauty"
Use: Preservative
Where: The FDA has restricted mercury in cosmetics, but it is still found in some brands of mascara, including the brand Love My Eyes, and skin-whitening productsbeauty It has been found in creams and soaps made in other countries and sold in the UbeautySbeauty beauty
Sources: FDA, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, National Cancer Institute, European Commission on Public Health, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Personal Care Products Council, California Office of the Attorney General, Skin Deep database (Environmental Working Group)