✨ The Dirty Truth: 10 Skincare Ingredients That Need to GTFO 🧴🚫
Velvet LuxeLet’s get real — you’ve probably picked up a cute bottle of “glow serum” or “magic moisturizer” thinking it’s the answer to all your skin prayers. 💁♀️ Only to flip it over, scan the ingredients, and feel like you’re reading the side effects of a sci-fi potion. 👀
Been there. We all have.
So let’s sit down with our green tea ☕ and talk about the 10 sketchy skincare ingredients that don’t belong anywhere near your beautiful face.
1. Parabens 🙅♀️
The clingy ex of skincare ingredients.
Used to preserve products (aka keep ‘em shelf-fresh for eternity), parabens like methylparaben and propylparaben can mess with your hormones. And not in a cute “I’m glowing!” way.
✨ Opt for: Products labeled “paraben-free” or with natural preservatives like Vitamin E.
2. Fragrance (a.k.a. "Parfum") 👃🔍
Vague, mysterious, and probably hiding something.
"Fragrance" can mean hundreds of hidden chemicals — and brands don’t have to tell you what’s in it. If your face cream smells like a fresh bouquet in Paris but burns like lava... yep.
✨ Go for: Unscented or products scented with real essential oils.
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) 🧼⚠️
The foamy troublemaker.
Sure, it gives your cleanser that satisfying lather, but SLS strips your skin like it owes it money.
✨ Try: Coconut-derived cleansers or soap-free formulas that still get the job done — gently.
4. Mineral Oil 🛢️😬
Basically baby oil's shady cousin.
It creates a “seal” on your skin… that also traps bacteria, sweat, and dead skin. Yum.
✨ Swap it: Jojoba, rosehip, or squalene oils that actually nourish your skin.
5. Phthalates 🧪🚫
Say it with us: Thal-lates = No-thanks.
Often hiding in "fragrance", phthalates are hormone disruptors — linked to reproductive issues. Your uterus deserves better.
✨ Avoid anything that doesn’t fully disclose ingredients.
6. Formaldehyde Releasers 😳☠️
Wait, isn't that what they use on dead bodies?
Correct. It’s still sneaking around in some products as a preservative. Check for names like DMDM Hydantoin or Quaternium-15.
✨ Look for clean-label certifications and organic preservatives.
7. Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) 🧴🔬
Sounds fancy. Is actually drying.
These thickeners and softeners can irritate sensitive skin and are often contaminated with toxins.
✨ Use: Plant-based humectants like glycerin and aloe vera instead.
8. Alcohol (Denatured or SD Alcohol) 🍸🔥
A shot of this on your face? Hard pass.
Short-term: matte skin. Long-term: dehydrated, flaky, irritated skin. Kinda like your mood after 3 hours of sleep.
✨ Use: Fatty alcohols like cetearyl alcohol (they’re actually skin-friendly).
9. Triclosan 🧼☣️
Banned in hand soaps, but still lurking in some acne products.
It’s an antimicrobial... but also linked to hormone disruption and antibiotic resistance. Not the drama we want.
✨ Look for botanical acne-fighters like tea tree, witch hazel, or willow bark.
10. Synthetic Dyes 🎨😒
For who?! Your skin doesn’t need to be pink to work.
FD&C or D&C followed by a color name = chemical dyes that can cause irritation and breakouts, especially for sensitive babes.
✨ Better: Naturally tinted from beetroot, turmeric, or clay.
💖 Bottom Line:
Your skin is a living, breathing vibe — not a lab experiment. 🧖♀️ If your ingredient list reads like a chemistry exam, it’s time to switch to cleaner, organic alternatives (yes, we’ve got a few fab options at Velvet Luxe 😉).
Pro tip: Start by ditching one sketchy ingredient at a time. Small swaps = big glow-ups.
Want help picking the right products for your skin type?
Slide into our DMs or hit the chat — we’ve got you, bestie. 💬✨