Our Standards

Why We Say No - So You Can Feel Good Saying Yes

At Mindful Essentials, your health is our highest priority. We believe self-care should never come at the cost of long-term well-being. That’s why we’re committed to offering personal care products made without the harmful or questionable ingredients often found in the industry.

This page outlines the ingredients we avoid and why. Whether it's due to potential toxicity, hormone disruption, cancer risks, or bioaccumulation in the body or environment, we’ve done the research so you can shop with peace of mind.

Ingredients We Never Use

1. Fragrance

  • Why we avoid it: May contain undisclosed ingredients that are potential carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and allergens.
  • Also known as: Parfum, Perfume, Aroma

2. Parabens

  • Why we avoid them: Linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and may be a possible carcinogen.
  • Also known as: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Ingredients ending in “-paraben”

3. Phthalates

  • Why we avoid them: Associated with endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and are possible carcinogens.
  • Also known as: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), DEHP, Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), Fragrance

4. Sulfates

  • Why we avoid them: Known irritants, can trigger allergic reactions, and may bioaccumulate.
  • Also known as: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

5. MIT & CMIT

  • Why we avoid them: Can cause organ system toxicity, neurotoxicity, and allergic reactions.
  • Also known as: methylisothiazolinone (MIT): 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, Neolone 950 preservative, MI, OriStar MIT, Microcare MT, methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT): 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, MCL

6. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers

  • Why we avoid them: Classified as a known carcinogen, causes allergic skin reactions and organ toxicity.
  • Also known as: Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, Polyoxymethylene urea, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol)

7. Ethanolamine Compounds

  • Why we avoid them: Can lead to organ toxicity, bioaccumulation, and cancer risks.
  • Also known as: Triethanolamine (TEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate

8. Ethoxylated Ingredients

  • Why we avoid them: Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both possible carcinogens.
  • Also known as: Propylene glycol (PPG) , Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Polysorbate, Ingredients that end in -”-eth” such as laureth, steareth, ceteareth

9. 1,4-Dioxane

  • Why we avoid it: A possible human carcinogen, often a contaminant from ethoxylation.
  • Also known as: Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) , Polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds, Ingredients with polyethylene, polyoxyethylene,”-oxynol-” , “-ceteareth-”, “-oleth-” , and “-eth-”

10. Butylated Compounds

  • Why we avoid them: Linked to endocrine disruption, organ toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and respiratory irritation. It is also a possible carcinogen.
  • Also known as: Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) , Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

11. Triclosan

  • Why we avoid it: A known endocrine disruptor and antimicrobial, it encourages antibiotic resistance and bioaccumulation.
  • Also known as: Triclocarban (TCC), Triclosan (TSC)

12. Coal Tar

  • Why we avoid it: A known carcinogen and causes organ toxicity.
  • Also known as: Coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbo-cart, coal tar solution, coal tar solution USP, crude coal tar, estar, impervotar, KC 261, Lavatar, Picis carbonis, Naphtha, High solvent naphtha, Naphtha distillate, Benzin B70, Petroleum benzin

13. Coal Tar Dyes

  • Why we avoid them: These synthetic colors are potential carcinogens.
  • Also known as: C.I. followed by 5-digit number, FD&C or D&C followed by color name and number, p-phenylenediamine (PPD), para-phenylenediamine, 4-aminoaniline, 1,4-benzenediamine, p-diaminobenzene, 1,4-diaminobenzene, 1,4-phenylene diamine

14. Siloxanes

  • Why we avoid them: Linked to hormone disruption and possible reproductive toxicity.
  • Also known as: Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) , Cyclopentasiloxane (D5), Cyclohexasiloxane (D6) - limited data, cyclomethicone, dimethicone

15. Toluene

  • Why we avoid it: Causes organ system toxicity, developmental and reproductive harm, and act as an irritant.
  • Also known as: Toluol, Methylbenzene

16. Carbon Black

  • Why we avoid it: A potential carcinogen that may cause organ toxicity.
  • Also known as: Carbon black, D & C Black No. 2, Acetylene black, Channel black, Furnace black, Lamp black, Thermal black

17. Heavy Metals

  • Why we avoid them: Linked to neurotoxicity, cancer, and developmental and reproductive issues.
  • Also known as: Lead acetate, Chromium, Thimerosal, Hydrogenate cotton seed oil, Sodium hexametaphosphate
  • NOTE: products with contaminant metals will not list them on ingredient labels

18. Benzophenone & Derivatives

  • Why we avoid them: Can cause endocrine disruption, organ toxicity, and may be carcinogenic. It may also act as an irritant.
  • Also known as: Benzophenone (BP), BP followed by a number (ex. BP2), Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Suliisobenzone sodium, Ingredients containing the word benzophenone

19. Homosalate

  • Why we avoid it: A possible hormone disruptor, it increases chemical absorption through the skin.
  • Also known as: Homosalate (HS), homomenthyl salicylate (HMS), 3,3,5-trimethyl-cyclohexyl-salicylate

20. Petrolatum

  • Why we avoid it: May be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are a potential carcinogen.
  • Also known as: Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Oil

21. Acrylates

  • Why we avoid them: Linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, cellular and neurological damage. It may also act as an irritant.
  • Also known as: Ethyl acrylate: acrylic acid ethyl ester, ethyl propenoate, EA; Ethyl methacrylate: ethyl ester, methacrylic acid, ethyl ester, ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, EMA; Methyl methacrylate: Methacrylate monomer, methyl ester of methacrylic acid, methyl-2-methyl-2-propenoate, MMA

22. Octinoxate

  • Why we avoid it: A known endocrine disruptor, linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity.
  • Also known as: Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), Parsol, Parsol MCX, Parsol MOX, Escalol, 2-ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate

Please note: The ingredients listed above represent some of the most well-documented ingredients we avoid, but they are not exhaustive. We continuously review emerging research and update our standards to ensure we're always offering the safest products possible.

Our Promise

We believe you deserve personal care products that put your health first. That’s why every product from Mindful Essentials is:

  • Non-toxic or low toxic
  • Free of harmful ingredients
  • From trusted brands with full ingredient transparency

We carefully evaluate every product to ensure it meets strict standards for safety and ingredient transparency. By partnering with trusted brands and prioritizing scientifically supported alternatives, we help you make informed choices you can rely on.