Harmful Chemicals in Lotion
Whether you’re applying a favorite lotion after a shower or reaching for hand cream to soothe dry skin, lotion is a regular part of many self-care routines. Our skin is the body's largest organ and it deserves thoughtful care, but it isn’t often that we stop and consider what’s actually in the products we use everyday.
Many lotions are formulated to feel luxurious and moisturizing, yet the ingredients that improve texture, scent, and shelf life aren’t always the best for our biological systems—or the ecosystems we live in. Because our skin is a semi-permeable membrane, some ingredients can be absorbed into the body, while others eventually wash down the drain and into our waterways.
Here, we look at several common ingredients of concern found in conventional lotions, along with safer alternatives that are better for our health and the health of the planet.
Ingredients of Concern
Some ingredients of concern that commonly show up in lotion include:
Parabens – A group of chemicals used in lotions as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. You can find parabens on the label by searching for the suffix “paraben.” Common parabens in lotions include methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben.
Parabens have been linked with endocrine disrupting activity[1][2][3] with far reaching consequences from altered menopause onset,[4] to hormone-disruption driven obesity in children.[5] Several common parabens (including methylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben) have been identified as potential endocrine disruptors by The Endocrine Disruption Exchange.[6] Because people are regularly exposed to parabens, it is critically important to investigate the cumulative impact of their endocrine disrupting effects from the near-constant exposure[7] in order to understand the full picture of how these chemicals are impacting human health. Beyond endocrine disruption, exposure to methylparaben during the third trimester of pregnancy has been associated with increased behavioral disorders in children.[8] Paraben exposure has furthermore been linked to breast cancer.[9] Lastly, some animal studies also indicate a correlation between paraben exposure and reproductive harm.[10]
On a potentially encouraging note, a 2025 meta-analysis of 203 publications found that global exposure to methylparaben declined from 2000 to 2024.[11] However it is worth noting that the study showed other parabens are still in high use and also identified that pregnant women and children, two of the most vulnerable populations, were found to have higher levels of exposure compared to non-pregnant adults.
Fragrances – Many lotion products include fragrances. This will generally be listed on the label as “fragrance” or “parfum,” but these words act as catchall terms for the often hundreds of ingredients that they contain. Fragrances are considered trade secrets in most cases and are, therefore, permitted to keep their ingredient list confidential. There are a number of concerning ingredients typically found in fragrance formulations such as phthalates, styrene, and parabens.
Phthalates have demonstrated endocrine disrupting capabilities.[12][13] Exposure to phthalates has been linked to preterm birth[14] and negative developmental impacts in utero.[15] In children, phthalate exposure is associated with precocious puberty,[16] obesity,[17][18] and respiratory problems, including asthma.[18][19] Phthalates have been connected to reproductive toxicity,[20][21] with multiple studies uncovering links between phthalate exposure and negative effects on male fertility and sperm quality.[22][23][24] Some phthalates have been implicated in heightening the risk of developing cancer.[25][26][27]
Styrene, an organic derivative of benzene, is used in fragrances to improve and prolong the life of the scent. It is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.[28][29] Chronic exposure to styrene is associated with numerous negative impacts including fatigue, central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, depression, and more.[30] Acute exposure causes eye and skin irritation.[29][30]
Parabens can be found within fragrance formulas, even if not written on the label, in addition to their possible inclusion as a preservative. See the “parabens” section in this article for more details on the concerns associated with this category of ingredients.
Petroleum Jelly – Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is a common ingredient in lotions due to its ability to create a physical barrier on the skin that aids in moisture retention. Petroleum jelly is, as indicated by its name, a petroleum-derived product. It is extracted from crude oil and then undergoes a distillation and purification process to transform it for cosmetic purposes. One health concern with petroleum jelly is the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are by-products of the refining process, lingering in the final product. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a kind of PAH, has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is “sufficient evidence” of its carcinogenicity in humans.[31] In the 15th edition of their report on carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) included 15 PAHs that they categorized as reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.[32] Even after the refining process, there is research indicating that some consumer care products containing petroleum jelly have residual levels of PAHs that exceed the recommended safe limits of exposure.[33][34]
Beyond human health concerns, petroleum jelly is a non-renewable resource due to the fact that it is a byproduct of the oil and gas industry. Petroleum jelly and its components persist in the environment,[35] which enables accumulation in the fatty tissues of aquatic life.[35][36] In addition to petroleum jelly, other popular petroleum-derived ingredients found in lotions that carry similar environmental concerns are mineral oil, liquid paraffin, microcrystalline wax, and paraffin wax.
Phenoxyethanol – Growing awareness regarding the concerns of other preservatives like parabens has led to the rise in popularity of phenoxyethanol as a preservative in a wide variety of personal care products, including lotion. Phenoxyethanol, as used in personal care products, is nearly always synthetic. It is lab-synthesized through a chemical reaction between phenol and ethylene oxide, known as ethoxylation. As with most ethoxylated chemicals, there is a risk of residual ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane contamination within the final product.[37] 1,4 dioxane is considered likely a human carcinogen by both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[38]
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS)[39] and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)[40] both consider phenoxyethanol to be safe for the majority of people at or below certain concentrations (usually below 1%). Multiple studies have examined cases of allergic reactions[41][42][43][44][45] and anaphylaxis[46] following phenoxyethanol exposure.
Tips for Choosing Better Lotions
- Shop MADE SAFE or MADE WISE Certified lotions and moisturizers.
- Look for safer preservatives, or forgo preservatives altogether by choosing a waterless moisturizing option such as a lotion bar.
- Common parabens to steer clear of in lotion include methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben. You can often spot them on labels by looking for the suffix “-paraben.”
- Better preservative examples include citric acid, sorbic acid, gluconolactone, potassium sorbate, and caprylhydroxamic acid.
- Seek alternatives to petroleum jelly/petrolatum. More sustainable options are shea or cocoa butter, beeswax, caprylic/capric triglyceride (derived from coconut oil and glycerin), and other plant oils.
- Avoid fragranced products. Search out products labeled as “fragrance-free” or use only products with fully disclosed fragrances.
References
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