Top 5 Safe, Non Toxic Face Moisturizers 2023

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After washing your face, it craves a soothing and hydrating moisturizer that will leave your skin feeling and looking good all day long. 

Having a skin care routine is proven to have long lasting results and it allows us to truly take care of ourselves. 

When moisturizing your skin, have you ever really thought about what is in the face moisturizer? 

Most of the time, conventional face moisturizers are filled with toxic ingredients that get soaked into our skin. This can cause many health conditions or irritations that can be avoided if we choose to use healthier products!

Do yourself a favor and ditch the chemicals in your personal care products. You won’t miss them!

Let’s talk about the top 5 safe non toxic face moisturizers that will leave your skin feeling and looking better than ever before! 

Table of Contents 

  • Common face moisturizers that are loaded with chemicals.
  • What toxic chemicals to look for in face moisturizers.
  • What are non toxic options worth swapping for?

Common Face Moisturizer Brands That Are Toxic 

  • CeraVe
  • Neutrogena 
  • L’Oreal
  • Olay
  • Clinique
  • Estee Lauder
  • Aveeno
  • Cetaphil

Be careful of Greenwashing! These companies may claim that they are “non toxic”, or free of harmful ingredients. However if you actually look at the ingredients, that is far from the truth!

What Toxic Chemicals to Avoid in Face Moisturizers

Parabens

  • Group of chemicals used as a preservative to reduce growth of bacteria and increase product shelf life. 
  • Biggest concern: Parabens are hormone disruptors and have been linked to infertility, affect birth outcomes, harm reproductive organs and can cause breast cancer specifically. 
  • Products can 100% be made without this ingredient.
  • Look for any word ending in “paraben” and avoid it!! For example, Isobutylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, propylparaben.

BHT, BHA & Methylisothiazolinone

  • Preservatives found in cosmetics. 
  • BHT & BHA are endocrine disruptors, affecting the reproductive system and often used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics. They can also cause thyroid, kidney, liver problems.
  • Methylisothiazolinone is highly allergenic and a known neurotoxin. 

Sulfates/Surfactants 

  • Commonly seen as “Sodium Lauryl Sulfate” or “Sodium Lauryth Sulfate” (aka, “SLS”).
  • This ingredient is known to be an irritant to the skin and eyes. It also weakens and damages the skin over time.
  • The concern isn’t so much with the ingredient itself, but the manufacturing process. During manufacturing, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is often contaminated with high amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Ethylene oxide is a known human carcinogen and also can harm the nervous system. 1,4-dioxane is a possible human carcinogen.

Formaldehyde – releasing preservatives: DMDM Hydantoin 

  • DMDM Hydantoin is a preservative used and Formaldehyde is slowly released in the chemical breakdown process for making DMDM Hydantoin.
  • Formaldehyde is a possible human carcinogen (cancer causing).
  • For this ingredient to be harmful, it would be used in high doses. 
  • Other terms used in products that are actually formaldehyde: methylene oxide, oxymethlyene, timonacic acid, benzylhemiformal, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane. 

Fragrance

  • Claimed to give the products a scent.
  • Companies do not have to disclose the chemicals hidden in the ingredient “fragrance” and can be applied for over 100 ingredients.
  • Therefore, you don’t truly know what is in the product.

Phthalates 

  • Typically, Phthalates are hidden in the ingredient “fragrance.”
  • Concern: endocrine and hormone disrupters which harm reproductive organs, reduce sperm count, can cause cancer and infertility.

PFOA’s, PFC’s & Teflon Chemicals

  • Known as the “forever chemicals.”
  • Can cause numerous health conditions including:
    • Kidney & Testicular Cancer
    • Liver & Thyroid problems 
    • Reproductive issues
    • High blood pressure and cholesterol 
    • Immune system damage

PEG’s (Polyethylene Glycol and Polysorbate) 

  • PEG’s are used to open up the skin pores.
  • While PEG’s isn’t the main concern, it’s frequently contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is linked to cancer.
  • It’s important to make sure that there are no additional toxic ingredients in products that contain PEG, otherwise more toxins will be conveniently absorbed through the skin.

Triclosan 

  • Known Endocrine disruptor.
  • Can cause damage to the endocrine system and reduce the function of the reproductive system (ex. infertility).

Dyes

  • Added to give color to the product.
  • Dyes often contain benzidine, which is a known carcinogen.
  • Linked to cause mood disorders, such as hyperactivity.

Look for terms such as: 

  • FD&C Blue
  • Yellow-5
  • Blue 6
  • Red 40

Top 5 Safe, Non Toxic Face Moisturizers:

Below are easy, affordable swaps for a healthy, safe non toxic face moisturizers. Your skin will thank you!

Knowing what ingredients are in products and what toxic ingredients to avoid is not meant to scare you. KNOWLEDGE is POWER. 

Switching to a product that is non toxic like these is just as easy as purchasing a toxic product to begin with. 

VERSED Dew Point Moisturizing Gel Cream

With a lightweight gel-like consistency, this moisturizer will keep your face hydrated all day long. It soaks into the skin and helps it retain the moisture it needs, without leaving the face looking shiny or greasy.  Can be used for all skin types, especially oily skin. Check it out here.

INKEY LIST Omega Water Cream

This moisturizer is a lightweight water based, gel face moisturizer. It immediately hydrates the skin and supports a healthy skin barrier without oils or silicones.  Can be used for all skin types, especially oily skin. Click here to view!

IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

A gel-cream lightweight moisturizer that provides all day and night hydration, without feeling sticky on the skin. With a slight cooling sensation, this moisturizer is soothing and absorbs deeply into the skin. Suitable for all skin types, especially those with irritated or sensitive skin. Check it out here!

PYUNKANG YUL Nutrition Cream

If you’re looking for a heavy night time moisturizer, this is it! With all safe and highly nutritional ingredients, this moisturizer provides the nourishment your skin craves. It deeply moisturizes the skin without being greasy. Recommended for dry and mixed skin, especially those who feel their skin has lost elasticity. Buy it here!

HONEST BEAUTY Hydrogel Cream

This cream moisturizer is lightweight and provides excellent hydration for the skin. Instantly this product gives you a nice dewy glow. It has more of a lotion feel than gel based moisturizers, but doesn’t leave the skin feeling or looking oily. Great for all skin types, even for those with oily or acne prone skin. Check it out here!

Follow The 80/20 Rule!

I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to your health.

80% of the time, make healthy choices. 20% of the time, it’s okay to relax a bit.

Not everything has to be perfect! All you have to do is try your best and intentionally make choices that make sense for your life. Try to use the most safe and healthy products to your knowledge.

It’s never too late to make changes and try out something new! 

I’m here to help and support you. Let’s create a healthy, less toxic community and take our power back! 

Looking for more content like this one? Check out my post on Non-Toxic and Safe Shampoo and Conditioner Brands! You can find it here. Visit my website here for more information and guidance on living less toxic!

References 

(2021, August 09). DMDM Hydantoin, Formaldehyde & Shampoo. Chemscape Safety Technologies. DMDM Hydantoin, Formaldehyde & Shampoo | Chemscape Safety Technologies

Segedie, L. (2019, June 4). Less Than Half of These 70+ Face Washes & Moisturizers Are Considered Safe. Mamavation. https://www.mamavation.com/beauty/face-wash-moisturizers.html

Spanne, A. (2022, February 15). What Are PFAS? Environmental Health News. https://www.ehn.org/what-are-pfas-2656619391.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwjMiiBhA4EiwAZe6jQwuZXN-em_i-4FMXK3e768TLWZ6gbxrDUThSPJ-O9VP1fnjpWJHbthoCNKsQAvD_BwE

Stoiber, T. (2019, April 09). What Are Parabens, and Why Don’t They Belong in Cosmetics? Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/what-are-parabens

The Dirty Dozen: BHA and BHT. David Suzuki Foundation. https://www.davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-bha-bht/

The Dirty Dozen: Sodium Laureth Sulfate. David Suzuki Foundation. 

The Dirty Dozen: Sodium Laureth Sulfate – David Suzuki Foundation

Wells, K. (2020, May 15). 10 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Care Products. Wellness Mama. https://wellnessmama.com/health/toxic-ingredients/