Yes, even ones which are “FDA approved” could contain ingredients that are harmful to your health.

Most companies out there (especially name brand ones) fill their products with toxins and poisons to lather up on the largest organ of your body: Your skin!

It’s extremely important to be careful of what you put on your skin, because your skin absorbs it, and it goes into your bloodstream, which then starts circulating all through your body.

Although instant death is rare, many of the chemicals and ingredients found in facial scrubs, washes, cosmetics, and acne treatment products are known to cause a number of health problems. Almost all are known to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and others are often associated with heavy metal toxicity or can cause lung and asthma problems, as well as a number of neurological and reproductive disorders as well.

At CureAcneHelp.com, we are committed to only reviewing products that have been tested and approved by SafeCosmetics.org.

This means we do not recommend any products that contain these potentially dangerous ingredients:

Acetaldehyde
Alcohol
Alkyl-phenol Ethoxylades
Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Aluminum
Ammonium Glycolate
Bentonite
Benzene
Benzoic Acid
Benzoic / Benzyl / Benzene
BHA – BHT
Bronopol
Butylparaben
Carboxymethylcellulose
Coal Tar Dyes (More commonly seen as Blue 1, Green 3,
Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 33)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Coumarin
Diethanolamine
Hydroabietyl Alcohol
Diacetyl
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
Dimethicone
Dimethylketone
Disodium EDTA
Elastin
Ethylacrylate
Fluoride
Formaldehyde
Fragrances
Glycolic Acid
High Fructose Corn Syrup/HFCS
Hydrogenated/Partially Hydrogenated Oils
Hydroquinone
Hydroxymethylcellulose
Isobutylparaben
Isoproponal/Isopropyl Alcohol
Kajoic Acid
Kaolin (Clay)
Lacquer
Lye
Magnesium Stearate
Methylisothiazoline, or MIT
Methyl Methacrylate
Methylparaben
Mineral Oil
Monosodium Glutamate/MSG
Neotame
Nitrate
Padimate-O (PABA)
Nitrosamines
Paraffin
PEG (An abbreviation for Polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, and others)
PEG Stearates
PEG-12 Distearate
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
PEG-14M
Petroleum (Petrolatum)
Phenoxyethanol
Phthalates
Polyethylene Glycol /PEG
Polypropylene
Polyscorbate-60
Polyquaternium-7
Potassium Bromate
Propylene Glycol
Propylparaben
Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60
Sodium Chloride
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Sodium Nitrite
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Stearalkonium Chloride
Stearic Acid
Sulfites
Talc
Toluene
Triclosan
Zinc Stearate

There are over 43 dangerous chemicals listed here, and we didn’t even list all of them!

We truly want people to be safer, and healthier, which is why this is not your “typical” acne review type of site. You’ll notice we don’t have any advertisements for products that contain any of the ingredients in this list.

If you want to insure that the product you are using is safe, read the ingredients label to ensure it does not contain any of the above ingredients, as well as check it with the EWG SkinDeep Database.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It is your first defense in protecting your brain, lungs, heart, and other vital organs. Be careful what you put on it!

Our Recommendations for Choosing Makeup

In general, it does not matter whether you have oily or dry skin, or a combination type, if you follow our recommendations. Below are some of the things to look for in what type of makeup to use:

Non Pore Clogging: In general, you should always try to look for makeup that is labeled as noncomedogenic, which means it will not clog your pores. Applying makeup all over your skin can often cause issues with pores becoming clogged, and bacteria getting trapped, which then results in pimples and blemishes. By choosing makeup that will not clog pores, you are less likely to see problems when using it.

Non-Toxic Makeup: While it’s getting better, most makeup and health and beauty items are extremely dangerous for your health, not just your skin. You can’t trust labeling or packaging that says “non-toxic” or “natural” or “hypoallergenic”. Vague ingredients such as “fragrance” are also very alarming.

Choose a Good Mineral Makeup: There are a lot of makeups which claim to be “mineral makeup” or “all natural” but most of these are no more than traditional makeup with minerals or natural ingredients added. True mineral or natural makeup is only made of a few ingredients and does not contain any chemicals, dyes, fillers, or otherwise synthetic ingredients. It provides excellent coverage, but still allows for skin to breathe, which is important to reduce acne. A good mineral makeup should list ingredients that end in the prefix -ioxide – ones which contain stearates may be bad for your health! Be sure to also make sure that the makeup does not include bismuth or aluminum. Some makeups use nano-sized particles, which you should also try and avoid.

Research Your Makeup: It’s recommended that before using anything on your skin that you first check it at SafeCosmetics.org. While not exactly the best way to find products, it does allow you to research these products based on their safety.

The best way to avoid makeup causing acne is to not wear makeup at all – but we know that many people like wearing makeup. So, if you take the steps above to find a safe mineral makeup for your skin, then you need to learn how to apply it correctly to avoid acne from makeup:

Use the Right Tools: The right or wrong makeup brushes and applicators makes all the difference. Some brushes can cause increased irritation, while others make it difficult to apply your makeup correctly. You may need to experiment with different sizes, shapes, and textures, but it is worth finding the best makeup applicators for you that works.

Clean Your Face Before You Apply and Before Bed: Wearing makeup everyday is not recommended, but if you insist on wearing it, be sure that you thoroughly clean your face before applying it, and make sure to also clean your face before going to bed at night as well.

Take Days Off: You do not need to wear makeup every day, and you shouldn’t! Your skin is one of your body’s largest organs – and exposing it to certain things each and every day, can be bad for your health!

While we cannot offer any product recommendations at this time because we’ve been unable to find a product which meets our standards for being the best makeup for acne prone skin, we do hope this information will help you find the best choice for you in choosing a makeup that is good for your skin and your body.

There are many myths about what causes acne. Some believe it has a lot to do with not washing your face, eating greasy foods or chocolate, or even just bad luck of having somewhere important you need to go. A breakout however isn’t from any of these single factors – usually it has a lot to do with the oil glands in your skin, the pores becoming clogged and bacteria being built up on your skin. Hormones and genetics can also play a role with this, which for some makes avoiding pimples and zits a lot more difficult.

Nonetheless, if you want to prevent acne, here are some simple tips to help you that won’t cause any harm in trying:

1. Eat a Balanced Diet: A balanced, healthy diet consists of eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, and whole grains. The USDA has set out pretty easy to follow eating guidelines with the food pyramid – ideally you should eat 2-3 servings of fruit, 2-3 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of dairy, 3 servings of meat, and 6-10 servings of whole grains each day. Eating a balanced diet will help with your body regulating a healthy blood sugar level, which can help reduce stress and keep your hormones well balanced. There’s no harm in eating right – so even if it doesn’t help you get rid of acne for good, it will at least help you be healthy.

2. Wash Your Face Daily: Washing your face seems like an obvious thing to do, but it’s important your also wash your face the right way. If you do not rinse soap properly, or use a soap that your skin is sensitive to, it can cause pores to become blocked which then can cause a breakout to happen. You don’t want to wash your face too often, as this can lead to drying of your skin, which then leads to dead skin cells causing your pores to become clogged. If you work in a hot, sweaty, or greasy environment, or have been very physically active, you should always wash your face off after that also.

3. Keep Cosmetics to a Minimum: Many cosmetics that you may use to cover up your acne may actually be making it worse. If possible, go without them completely. If you must use them, choose ones that do not clog pores, often labeled as noncomedogenic. Hair products such as shampoo or styling gel can also cause trouble – make sure they stay away from your face and back if you are prone to getting pimples on your back.

4. Wash Your Hands: Our hands come into contact with millions of germs and particles of dirt each day. If you touch your face with your hands, you’ve just transferred that bacteria to your face. Try to touch your face as little as possible, and wash your hands regularly throughout the day, especially after handling food, eating, and activities where they may have been exposed to dirt or bacteria.

5. Don’t Pop Pimples: We know that when you do get a pimple on your face the urge to pop it is difficult to resist. However, when you do pop a pimple, the bacteria (pus) that was inside has now been spread to the surrounding skin, which can cause flare ups. This is often why some people will notice they have certain problem areas.

6. Wear Sunscreen: Sunscreen is vital when you are outside in the sunshine. While a tan might seem like it helps with hiding acne, it actually causes your body to produce sebum, which can actually make it potentially worse. Not to mention sunburn is never a fun thing to have! Choose one that will not clog pores, and remember afterward rinse your face off.

Doing these things may or may not help with preventing acne completely, but they can help make it much more easier to deal with or handle. If you have any concerns about your skin, be sure to speak with your physician or a dermatologist who can help you pinpoint exactly the causes of the your skin concerns and recommend the best treatment.

Do you have any tips on how to prevent acne? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Below are our articles about acne treatments as well as information about skin care. If you have any questions or comments about this website, feel free to Contact Us and we’ll try to respond to you as quickly as possible.