Toxic Skincare Ingredients to Avoid & Why Tallow Is the Best Natural Moisturiser
- amamasapothecary
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever flipped over your skincare bottle and tried to read the ingredients, chances are you were met with a long list of unpronounceable chemicals.
Mainstream skincare products are often loaded with harmful ingredients that disrupt hormones, irritate sensitive skin, and increase long-term health risks.
In this blog, we’re exposing toxic skincare ingredients to avoid, looking at real lawsuits against big beauty brands, and showing you why pure grass-fed tallow is a safe, natural skincare alternative—especially for sensitive skin, eczema, and Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).
Hidden Chemicals in Skincare: What’s Really in Your Moisturiser?
1. Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben)
Used as: Preservatives
Found in: Moisturisers, cleansers, serums, deodorants
Parabens mimic estrogen and have been found in 90% of breast tumor samples (Darbre et al., 2004). These are endocrine disruptors that mess with your body’s natural hormones.
2. Phthalates (often hidden in “fragrance”)
Used as: Solvents, texture enhancers
Found in: Lotions, perfumes, hair care
Phthalates are linked to fertility problems and hormone disruption. One study even linked prenatal exposure to abnormal reproductive development in baby boys.
3. Synthetic Fragrance (Parfum)
Used as: Scent
Found in: Almost everything mainstream
“Fragrance” can legally hide hundreds of chemicals, including known allergens and hormone disruptors. If you have eczema, rosacea or sensitive skin, this is a big one to avoid.
4. SLS & SLES (Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfate)
Used as: Foaming agents
Found in: Cleansers, face washes, shampoo
These ingredients strip the skin’s natural oils and are often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane—a probable human carcinogen.
5. Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives(DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea)
Used in: Hair products, moisturisers
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. TRESemmé was sued for hair loss and scalp burns due to DMDM Hydantoin.
6. Petrolatum (aka Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Baby Oil)
Used as: Emollient
Found in: Vaseline, body creams
Petrolatum can be contaminated with PAHs (carcinogenic), and it suffocates skin, trapping toxins and preventing real healing.
7. Chemical Sunscreens (Oxybenzone, Octinoxate)
Used in: SPF skincare and makeup
These disrupt hormones and harm marine life. Hawaii has banned them due to reef destruction.
Major Lawsuits Against Big Skincare Brands
🔹 Johnson & Johnson
Over 40,000 lawsuits were filed claiming J&J’s talc-based baby powder caused ovarian cancer. Internal documents show they knew about asbestos in their products for decades.
🔹 TRESemmé / Unileve
Faced lawsuits over DMDM Hydantoin in shampoos causing scalp burns and hair loss.
🔹 CeraVe, Cetaphil, Aveeno
These “dermatologist-recommended” brands contain parabens, petrolatum, and fragrance—common triggers for sensitive skin and eczema.
The Power of Grass-Fed Tallow for Natural Skincare
Forget 20-ingredient moisturisers.
Pure tallow is:
• Rich in vitamins A, D, E, K
• Naturally anti-inflammatory (contains CLA and palmitic acid)
• Skin-identical fats = deep nourishment
• Heals eczema, TSW, rosacea and dry patches
• Absorbs easily, doesn’t clog pores
• Safe enough for babies
Why Simpler Skincare is Better
The beauty industry loves to overcomplicate skincare. But when you look at the science, less is more.
Pure, grass-fed tallow skincare delivers all the benefits—without the junk.
Ready to Make the Switch?
At A Mama’s Apothecary, we handcraft 100% pure, whipped tallow moisturisers made with grass-fed Australian tallow. No nasties. No greenwashing.
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