If Your Makeup Has One Of These 5 Ingredients, Throw It Out Now

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Shelling out for that new blush at Sephora can be a thrill too great to turn down. But despite how good the product looks, you should think twice about your purchase. Depending on how it’s made, makeup can be bad for your skin and for your body. Here are five ingredients to avoid:

1. Parabens

Parabens, which are a family of harmful chemicals, are found in a lot of makeup products, moisturizers and hair care products. There’s no definitive evidence that parabens directly impact your immediate health; however, studies continue to show that they can negatively affect your endocrine system, which secretes hormones to your entire body.

2. Propylene Glycol

Though it seems harmless — it’s an organic alcohol used as a skin conditioning agent — propylene glycol could potentially wreak havoc on your organ systems. It can also be an irritant to your skin, eyes and lungs. Propylene glycol is known to be absorbed through the skin more than other ingredients.

3. ‘Fragrance’

If your makeup contains added fragrance, you should probably toss it. “Fragrance” often appears on makeup labels to cover up a bunch of chemicals that are generally bad for your body. Other than the fact that fragrance can trigger allergies, it can also be highly toxic to your organ systems.

4. Daytime Retinol

You may have heard that nighttime retinol cream can do wonders for your face and neck, and that could be true. But never use retinoid-based creams or oils anywhere on your body during the daytime. When exposed to sunlight, retinol becomes carcinogenic and can make your skin burn easier, which can age you. Isn’t that ironic? Keep a look out for makeup products with retinol in it, and then throw them out.

5. Petroleum Distillates

Often found in mascara, petroleum distillates are an irritant chemical that can affect the nose, mouth, throat and — yep — eyes. But it gets worse: if absorbed too much by the skin or accidentally inhaled, it could affect your nervous system, leaving you with headaches, dizziness, nausea and loss of coordination.