The Verdict List

Ingredient glossary

Ingredient glossary

One page per ingredient or material we've flagged somewhere on the site. If you own a product we haven't reviewed yet, look up what's on its label here and draw your own conclusion. That's more useful than a review we haven't written.

Ingredients below are grouped by how much attention they deserve, riskiest first, not alphabetically. Within each group, they're listed alphabetically, so you can still jump straight to a name you already have in mind.

Avoid entirely

  • Lead (in solder and metal parts)Avoid entirelyalso called: Lead solder, Lead content, Solder bead
  • PFASAvoid entirelyalso called: Forever chemicals, PFOA, PFOS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, FluoropolymerRelated screening measurements: Organic fluorine, Total organic fluorine

Use with caution

  • 1,4-DioxaneUse with cautionalso called: Dioxane, 1,4-Diethylene dioxide, Diethylene dioxide, Diethylene ether, p-Dioxane, 1,4-Diethyleneoxide
  • Added flame retardant chemicalsUse with cautionalso called: Flame retardants, FR chemicals, Organohalogen flame retardants, PBDE, TDCPP, Chlorinated Tris
  • Bisphenols (BPA, BPS, BPF)Use with cautionalso called: BPA, Bisphenol A, BPS, Bisphenol S, BPF, Bisphenol F
  • Dyes and ColorantsUse with cautionalso called: Diaper dyes, Disperse dyes, Azo dyes, Textile dyes, Print pigments/inks, Colorants, Non-migrating pigments
  • Formaldehyde-Releasing PreservativesUse with cautionalso called: Formaldehyde donors, Formaldehyde releasers, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Bronopol, Germall 115, Germall II, Dowicil 200, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
  • FragranceUse with cautionalso called: Parfum, Perfume, Aroma, Fragrance (undisclosed mixture)
  • Optical BrightenersUse with cautionalso called: Fluorescent Whitening Agents (FWAs), Fluorescent Brightening Agents (FBAs), Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs), UV brighteners, Tinopal, Blankophor, Uvitex
  • PhenoxyethanolUse with cautionalso called: 2-Phenoxyethanol, Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, Phenoxethol, PhE
  • PhthalatesUse with cautionalso called: Phthalate esters, PAEs, DEHP, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DBP, Dibutyl phthalate, BBP, Benzyl butyl phthalate, DINP, Diisononyl phthalate, DEP, Diethyl phthalate
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Use with cautionalso called: VOCs, Off-gassing, Trace VOCs
  • Zinc oxideUse with cautionalso called: ZnO

Depends on context

  • Cocamidopropyl BetaineDepends on contextalso called: CAPB, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Coconut Amidopropyl Betaine
  • Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride PhosphateDepends on contextalso called: Arlasilk Phospholipid PTC, Cola Lipid C, Cocamidopropyl Propylene Glycol-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
  • Elemental chlorine-free pulpDepends on contextalso called: ECF pulp, Chlorine-free pulp, ECF-bleached wood pulp
  • HydroxyacetophenoneDepends on contextalso called: 4'-Hydroxyacetophenone, p-Hydroxyacetophenone, 4-Hydroxyacetophenone, HAP, SymSave H (trade name), Piceol
  • Methylisothiazolinone (MI/MIT)Depends on contextalso called: MI, MIT, Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, MCI/MI, Kathon CG, 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-Methyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone, Neolone 950
  • Microplastics and nanoplasticsDepends on contextalso called: Plastic particles, Particle shedding, Nanoplastics
  • Natural Rubber LatexDepends on contextalso called: Latex, Natural Latex, NRL, Natural Latex Rubber, Hevea Latex, India Rubber
  • PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilDepends on contextalso called: Polyoxyl 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Kolliphor RH 40, Cremophor RH 40, Macrogolglycerol Hydroxystearate
  • PolyethyleneDepends on contextalso called: PE, Polyethene, Polythene, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polyethylene wax
  • Polypropylene (PP)Depends on contextalso called: PP, Polypropene, Plastic #5, Resin code 5
  • PPSU (polyphenylsulfone)Depends on contextalso called: Polyphenylsulfone, PPSF, Radel
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ("Quats")Depends on contextalso called: Quats, QACs, Quaternary ammonium salts, Benzalkonium chloride, BAC, BZK, ADBAC, Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, Didecyldimethylammonium chloride, DDAC, Cetrimonium chloride, Dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
  • Silicone (siloxanes)Depends on contextalso called: Silicone rubber, Liquid silicone rubber, LSR, Platinum-cured silicone, Food-grade silicone

Generally fine

  • PTFE (Teflon)Generally finealso called: Teflon, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Fluoropolymer, PTFE resin
  • Sodium polyacrylateGenerally finealso called: Superabsorbent polymer, SAP, Polyacrylate, Cross-linked sodium polyacrylate