Used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy, and in some personal care products.

Used in personal care products and cosmetics; also in some creams and gels to treat eczema, burns, etc.; can be taken internally to help digestive problems.

Cheaper than almond oil, so used more often in personal care products to soften skin; used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy.

Used as a food oil and in personal care products; used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy.

Used to make fine candles, cosmetics, shoe polish and pharmaceuticals; also used to make bone wax, which is used to stop bone bleeding during surgical procedures (once applied it remains in place in the body; some people have experienced adverse reactions).

A widely used preservative in creams, cosmetics, food and beverages; typical products include hand creams, body lotions, tanning lotions, shampoos, skin cleansers, skin toners, moisturisers, hair conditioners, hair dyes, eye shadows, foundations and after-shaves.

Used to make moisturisers, soaps, cosmetics and lip balms; used to make chocolate including white chocolate.

Used in skin moisturisers and soap; in India and Sri Lanka used to style hair; used in vegetable oil and manufacture of processed foods.

A preservative used in personal care products, medicinal creams, cosmetics and foods.

Used as a preservative in cosmetics, skin care products, shampoos and conditioners, bubble baths, baby wipes and household detergents.

Used as a solvent for dyes, in cosmetics (particularly nail polish), food packaging, perfumes, skin emollients, hair spray and insect repellents; a commonly used plasticiser (makes plastics more flexible and easier to handle).

Found in personal care products (e.g. Hair conditioners, body toning creams, mascaras and shaving creams); also used in dry-eye medication and vaginal creams and gels.

A preservative found in skin, body and hair products, antiperspirants and nail polishes.

Found in hand and body lotions, moisturisers, deodorants, body sprays, pre-shave lotions, mascara, after-shave and medicinal creams; also used as a non-pesticide treatment for hair lice.

Extracted from a shrub; used in hair care products, cosmetics and skin care preparations; used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy.

A widely used preservative in creams, cosmetics, food and beverages; typical products include hand creams, body lotions, tanning lotions, shampoos, skin cleansers, skin toners, moisturisers, hair conditioners, hair dyes, eye shadows, foundations and after-shaves.

Found in some personal care products; not intentionally added, but are formed accidentally during manufacture or storage (levels increase over time); research shows over half personal care products and cosmetics have detectable levels; also formed when nitrates (usually from food or drinking water) react with amines naturally present in food and in the human body; also in tobacco smoke.

A common ingredient in cosmetics, hair conditioners, nail care products, deodorants, vaginal creams, etc.

Absorbs UV rays; used in sunscreens, skin care and lip balms

Used in the manufacture of soap, cosmetics, detergents, candles and printing ink; used as a cooking oil, in baby formulas, to make margarine, and in many processed foods; used in production of biodiesel fuel.

Widely used as a permanent hair dye (when a reaction to hair dye occurs, this is the most likely culprit); may also be found in dark coloured cosmetics, temporary tattoos, photographic developer and lithography plates, photocopying and printing inks, black rubber, oils, greases and gasoline; also found in textile or fur dyes.

Widely used to make cosmetics opaque; used to make soap and medicinal ointments.

An antioxidant used in personal care products, cosmetics, sausages, margarine, and chewing gum; used in manufacture of paper packaging that will be in contact with food.

A widely used preservative in creams, cosmetics, food and beverages; typical products include hand creams, body lotions, tanning lotions, shampoos, skin cleansers, skin toners, moisturisers, hair conditioners, hair dyes, eye shadows, foundations and after-shaves.

Used in the preparation of perfumes, in personal care products (e.g. Cleansers, skin creams, toothpastes, shampoos, hair conditioners, hair dyes), and cosmetics, and in drugs; used as a preservative in some food (e.g. Ice cream and sour cream); used as an anti-freeze, a solvent and a mould inhibitor; also used in artificial smoke and fog machines.

Used in hair dyes, anti-dandruff shampoos and sunscreens; used to treat acne and skin complaints; also used to dye fur and leather and in wood adhesives.

Widely used in cosmetics as a moisturiser and an emollient; used as a cooking oil in West Africa, as well as sometimes being used in the chocolate industry as a substitute for cocoa butter.

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / SDS    Used in personal care products such as toothpastes, shampoos, shaving foams and bubble baths for its thickening effect and its ability to create a lather.

Found in personal care products (e.g. Moisturisers, hand creams, body lotions, tanning lotions, cream soaps, eye shadows, mascaras, hair dyes, foundation, and shaving foams); used as a lubricant in nutritional and medicinal tablets.

Found in face wash creams, hair conditioners, hand creams, foundation, eye shadows, lipsticks, and similar products.

Used in natural personal care products, and some medicinal creams.