The Hidden Dangers in Our Beauty Products: What our Community Needs to Know

Not all glow is good glow. Here’s the truth about six chemicals still sitting on U.S. shelves—and why Black and brown families carry the heaviest weight of exposure.

---

Why We Need This Conversation

A study in Environmental Science & Toxicology Letters looked at the products used by 70 Black and Latina women. The results? Over half were using products with formaldehyde-releasing chemicals.

On the surface, these additives are there to make beauty products last longer on shelves. But beneath the label, formaldehyde is a known cancer-causing chemical—and it shows up most often in products marketed directly to our communities.

And formaldehyde isn’t the only one. The beauty aisle is lined with chemicals that sound harmless—or that never even make it onto the label—but still find their way into our bodies and our routines.

So let’s break it down. Here are six of the biggest culprits: where they show up, how they sneak in, and what they do once they’re inside.

---

1. Formaldehyde & Formaldehyde-Releasers

If you’ve ever sat through a hair straightening session, glued on lashes, or used a “smoothing” shampoo, this one’s for you.

• Where it shows up: Hair straighteners, nail products, shampoos, lotions, eyelash glue. Often disguised under names like DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, or Imidazolidinyl urea.

• How it enters: Vapors when heat is applied (like blow-dryers/flat irons) and through skin contact.

• What it does: Formaldehyde is a known cancer-causing chemical. It also irritates the lungs, triggers asthma, and causes skin reactions. Repeated exposures add up.

• Why WE are hit harder: Hair relaxers and smoothing treatments, disproportionately marketed to Black women, are some of the biggest culprits.

---

2. Triclosan

Still brushing with toothpaste from a big-box brand? You might have met triclosan without even knowing it.

• Where it shows up: Toothpaste, some cosmetics, old stock hand soaps.

• How it enters: Through the mouth and skin.

• What it does: It’s an endocrine disruptor, meaning it messes with hormones. Hormones run your entire system—when they’re disrupted, it can affect fertility, thyroid health, and energy levels.

• Long-term risks: Hormonal imbalance can mean irregular cycles, fertility struggles, or increased risk of thyroid issues.

  
  

---

3. Phthalates (DBP & friends)

If your label says “fragrance,” you’re likely dealing with phthalates—even if the word never shows up.

• Where it shows up: Nail polish, hair sprays, perfumes, anything labeled “fragrance.”

• How it enters: Skin absorption and inhaling sprays.

• What it does: Another endocrine disruptor. In plain terms, phthalates interfere with reproductive health—leading to lower sperm counts, miscarriages, early puberty, and metabolic issues like diabetes.

• Why it’s hidden: Brands can legally tuck phthalates under “fragrance” without telling you.

---

4. Lilial (Butylphenyl Methylpropional)

That “fresh floral” lotion or signature perfume? Lilial may be hiding inside the scent.

• Where it shows up: Perfumes, scented lotions, fragranced shampoos.

• How it enters: Skin and inhalation.

• What it does: Classified as a reproductive toxicant—it can interfere with fertility and healthy pregnancy. Also known to irritate skin.

5. Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT)

If dandruff shampoos line your shower, this chemical might already be part of your weekly routine.

• Where it shows up: Anti-dandruff shampoos, antifungal creams.

• How it enters: Scalp absorption.

• What it does: Research suggests neurotoxicity. In plain English: it may affect the nervous system and brain over time. It can also cause skin irritation and harm aquatic life when washed down drains.

---

6. Selenium Sulfide

That “extra strength” medicated shampoo? This is often the active ingredient.

• Where it shows up: Medicated dandruff shampoos.

• How it enters: Absorbed through the scalp.

• What it does: Labeled a possible human carcinogen (causes cancer). It can also irritate skin and eyes.

---

Why This Matters for Us

The average woman uses 12 personal care products a day. For Black and brown communities, it’s often more—hair oils, edge gels, conditioners, straighteners, relaxers. That means higher cumulative exposure to these chemicals. It also means passing these toxic products and practices down to our youth.

And the scary truth? No one is tracking what happens when all these exposures pile up over years.

How to Protect Your Peace

• Check your labels: Watch for long preservative names or the catch-all “fragrance.”

• Simplify: Fewer products = fewer exposures.

• Choose clean brands: Look for companies committed to transparency and plant-based care.

• Share the knowledge: Talk about it with your sisters, cousins, aunties—many don’t know these risks.

---

Final Thought

Our beauty shouldn’t come with a toxic price tag. Especially not for Black and brown families who are already carrying More™—from systemic stressors to cultural pressure around hair and skin. We deserve more than toxic trade-offs. Your skincare, haircare, and beauty rituals should feel like nourishment—not a negotiation with your health.

Though the U.S. lags behind other countries in cosmetics safety regulation, we don’t have to accept the status quo. Over time, awareness, consumer demand, policy change, and safer formula innovation can shift the landscape.

You cannot control every exposure, but you can choose more wisely. Move with intention. Prioritize fewer, and cleaner products. Protect your peace, your body, and your lineage.

Because you deserve More™ than just surface beauty—you deserve radical safety, radiant health, and whole-body love.