Makeup ingredients to avoid (and how often we find them)
Updated 2026-10-15 · Based on 1750 screened products
We screened 227 mascaras, foundations and lipsticks. Here is how often each watchlist group appears, by product type:
| Watchlist group | Mascaras | Foundations | Lipsticks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parabens | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Talc | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Carbon black | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Titanium dioxide | 28 | 38 | 63 |
Label names to look for
- Talc: "talc", CI 77718 (IARC 2A, 2024)
- Carbon black: "carbon black", CI 77266, D&C Black No. 2 (IARC 2B)
- Titanium dioxide: CI 77891 (IARC 2B, inhalation)
- BHA: butylated hydroxyanisole (IARC 2B)
- Formaldehyde releasers: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15 (formaldehyde: IARC Group 1)
Sources: IARC Monographs – List of Classifications; EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
Clean alternatives
Hazard is not risk. An IARC classification says whether a substance can cause cancer under some conditions (e.g. titanium dioxide is classified for inhaled powder), not that a cosmetic containing it is harmful at normal use. EU restrictions set use limits. This page is informational, not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist about your own skin.