Parabens
On a label: Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben
Not on our shelves
Preservatives studied for hormone-disrupting effects. The EU bans five parabens in cosmetics and limits the rest.
Our standards
Ingredients We Don't Carry
We read the full ingredient list of every product before it goes on our shelves.
These are the ingredients you won't find in any product we sell, online or in our store. Search for a name from a label, or filter by category.
Last checked: November 2026
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers
On a label: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
Not on our shelves
Formaldehyde is classified as a known human carcinogen by the IARC. These preservatives work by slowly releasing it.
Phthalate plasticizers
On a label: DBP (dibutyl phthalate), DEHP, DEP (diethyl phthalate)
Not on our shelves
Plasticizers studied for hormone-disrupting effects. DBP and DEHP are banned in EU cosmetics.
Triclosan and triclocarban
On a label: Triclosan, triclocarban
Not on our shelves
Antibacterial ingredients the FDA removed from consumer antiseptic washes in 2016.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate
On a label: Benzophenone-3, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octyl methoxycinnamate
Not on our shelves
Chemical sunscreen filters. Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens made with them since 2021, citing harm to coral reefs.
Other chemical sunscreen filters
On a label: Homosalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, octisalate
Not on our shelves
Every sunscreen we carry uses mineral filters instead: zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Isothiazolinone preservatives
On a label: Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
Not on our shelves
A common cause of contact allergy. The EU has banned MIT in leave-on cosmetics since 2017.
BHA and BHT
On a label: Butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene
Not on our shelves
Synthetic antioxidants added to keep oils in a formula from going rancid.
SLS and SLES
On a label: Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate
Not on our shelves
Foaming cleansers that can irritate skin and eyes. SLES is made by a process that can leave traces of 1,4-dioxane.
Cyclic silicones
On a label: D4, D5, D6, cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, cyclomethicone
Not on our shelves
The EU restricts them in cosmetics because they persist in the environment.
Talc
On a label: Talc, talcum powder
Not on our shelves
Talc can be contaminated with asbestos when it's mined near it.
Hydroquinone
On a label: Hydroquinone
Not on our shelves
A skin-lightening ingredient that hasn't been allowed in over-the-counter products in the US since 2020.
Coal tar
On a label: Coal tar, coal tar solution, pix carbonis
Not on our shelves
Used in some dandruff shampoos in the US. It's banned in EU cosmetics, and the IARC classifies coal tar as a known human carcinogen.
Resorcinol
On a label: Resorcinol, 1,3-benzenediol
Not on our shelves
A hair dye ingredient that can cause skin allergies. The EU limits how much hair dyes can contain.
Methyl cellosolve
On a label: 2-Methoxyethanol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether
Not on our shelves
A solvent the EU lists as a substance of very high concern because of its effects on fertility.
Vinyl chloride
On a label: Vinyl chloride, chloroethylene
Not on our shelves
A gas once used to propel aerosol sprays. The FDA has banned it in cosmetics since 1974.
Toluene
On a label: Toluene, methylbenzene
Not on our shelves
A solvent used in conventional nail polish.
Ethanolamines
On a label: DEA (diethanolamine), cocamide DEA, MEA (monoethanolamine)
Not on our shelves
Foaming and pH ingredients that can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
On a label: PTFE, Teflon, PFOA, perfluoro- and polyfluoro- ingredients
Not on our shelves
Chemicals that persist in the environment for decades. Several US states are phasing them out of cosmetics, cookware and textiles.
Chlorine bleach
On a label: Sodium hypochlorite
Not on our shelves
Gives off harsh fumes, and releases harmful gases when mixed with ammonia or acids.
Ammonia
On a label: Ammonium hydroxide
Not on our shelves
Gives off harsh fumes, and should never be mixed with bleach.
Optical brighteners
On a label: Stilbene brighteners, fluorescent whitening agents
Not on our shelves
Leave a residue on fabric that makes it look whiter without making it cleaner.
Disinfecting quats
On a label: Benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, didecyldimonium chloride
Not on our shelves
Disinfectants that leave a residue on surfaces, studied for links to asthma in people who clean for work.
Paraffin candle wax
On a label: Paraffin wax
Not on our shelves
A petroleum-derived wax. None of our candles' ingredient lists include it.
Aluminum antiperspirant salts
On a label: Aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly
Not on our shelves
The active ingredients in antiperspirants, which block sweat. None of the deodorants we carry use them.
Synthetic food dyes
On a label: Red 40, Red 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3 (FD&C colors)
Not on our shelves
Petroleum-derived color additives. In January 2025 the FDA revoked its authorization of Red 3 in food. Our food, drinks and candy get their color from fruit and vegetable juices, spirulina, turmeric or beta carotene, if they're colored at all.
Ingredients we allow, with limits
Ingredients aren't simply good or bad, and the research is more nuanced than a yes-or-no list. These are ingredients we do allow, and why.
Fragrance, natural or synthetic
On a label: Fragrance, parfum, natural fragrance, essential oils
Allowed, with limits
If a product contains fragrance, the brand has to tell us what's in it or confirm it meets IFRA safety standards. We don't carry fragrance that's both undisclosed and unverified.
Phenoxyethanol
On a label: Phenoxyethanol
Allowed, with limits
A preservative that keeps water-based products like lotions and cleansers from growing bacteria and mold. The EU allows it in cosmetics at up to 1%. Labels don't show how much a product contains, so ask us if you'd like us to check with a brand.
PEGs and polysorbates
On a label: PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, ceteareth
Allowed, with limits
Emulsifiers that help oil and water mix. Regulators allow them. Making them can leave traces of 1,4-dioxane, which manufacturers can remove by purifying them.
Mineral oil, petrolatum and petroleum waxes
On a label: Paraffinum liquidum, petroleum jelly, microcrystalline wax, ozokerite, refined paraffin wax (not in candles)
Allowed, with limits
Petroleum-derived. We try to choose natural, plant-based oils, butters and waxes over petroleum ones, but that isn't always possible, so you'll find them in a few products, like the lip exfoliator in one EWG Verified lip kit and the coating on some tampon strings. We don't carry paraffin candles.
Acrylates
On a label: Acrylates copolymer, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
Allowed, with limits
Polymers that form a thin film or thicken a formula. You'll find them in nail polish, hairspray and some skin care.
Nail polish pigments
On a label: Carbon black (CI 77266), aluminum powder (CI 77000), quartz
Allowed, with limits
Nail polish needs mineral pigments and fillers that other products don't. We only carry these in nail products.
That name isn't on this list. Check the product's ingredient list or ask us about it.
How we check
Every product's full ingredient list is checked against this page before we stock it, including the names each ingredient goes by. A brand that won't share its full list doesn't make it onto our shelves.
Many of our products also carry independent certifications. See what each one means.
Quick questions
What does "we don't carry" mean?
We read the full ingredient list of every product before we stock it. None of the products we sell, online or in our store, lists the ingredients on this page, and new products have to pass this list before they go on our shelves.
We check what's on the label. Trace contaminants that aren't ingredients, such as 1,4-dioxane, can't be seen on a label, so we don't make claims about them.
Why isn't this list longer?
We list the ingredients you're actually likely to see on a label. Regulators track thousands of chemicals, and many are industrial ones, like the pesticide DDT or the explosive TNT, that would never be in a lotion, shampoo or cleaner in the first place. Listing them wouldn't change what's on our shelves.
A few ingredients people often ask about, like fragrance or phenoxyethanol, are in some products we carry. You'll find them under "Ingredients we allow, with limits", with the reason for each. To check a product, search the box above, read the ingredient list on its product page, or ask us.
Why do you carry both tallow and vegan products?
Because “clean” means different things to different people. Some of you want cruelty-free and vegan, others want regenerative animal ingredients like grass-fed tallow or beeswax. We vet every product for its ingredients either way, and use certifications so you can shop by the values that matter to you. See what each certification means.
What are your pet and baby toys made of?
Every pet and baby toy we carry is plastic-free, made from materials like wool, organic cotton, untreated wood, paper, natural rubber and food-grade silicone.
Does this cover products in our Newburyport store?
Yes. It covers every product we sell, online and at Dome Market, 37 State Street, Newburyport.
Can I check products I already own?
Yes. Scan any ingredient label with the Detox Your Dome app to see what each ingredient is and what regulators have said about it. Get the app
Have other questions? Check out our FAQ