Last Updated: January 16, 2025

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For better or for worse, we’re largely a nation of overconsumers. That’s problematic, and skincare is a prime example. In the pursuit of clear, glowing skin, we tend to go the nuclear route, piling on the chemical peels and toners and tighteners and moisturizers and mattifiers and well, the list goes on. But that’s an issue on two levels. First, lurking in that mile-long list of ingredients in your am and pm skincare stack are a lot of things that really aren’t doing your skin any favors. In fact, most conventional skincare products are packed with preservatives and synthetic chemicals that can do more harm than good. Second, overloading your skin with stuff it doesn’t need often backfires, contributing to dryness, sensitivity and oil overproduction—all of which signal an imbalance that you’ve inadvertently cultivated (and paid for!). When it comes to great skin, balance is everything. And with that in mind, we’re breaking down why and how to detox your skincare routine, stat.

The Never-Ever List: Skin And Hair Care Ingredients To Avoid

There is a singular goal when it comes to skincare, we want it to look and feel great, and that’s entirely reasonable no matter your age. Your particular concerns may vary, whether it’s clearing blemishes or reducing the look of fine lines or smoothing texture and over-pigmentation, but the overarching idea is the same. The problem is, so many products on the market that promise results have serious drawbacks in the form of downright harmful ingredients.

It’s easy to forget, but the skin is the largest organ in the body and it’s intrinsically connected to both the brain and the gut. In other words, what you smear all over yourself has a direct effect on your entire digestive system and your mental health. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Let’s run through hyper common ingredients found in skin and hair care products at every point in the price spectrum that you should approach like a rabid dog, avoid it entirely.

• Harsh sulfates. Found in shampoos and other hair care products, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are strong detergents. They suds up beautifully, making you feel like you’re getting a good clean, but they also strip the skin and scalp of natural oils, leaving them inflamed and downright vulnerable. You know that squeaky-clean feeling you get after washing with a hotel shampoo and suddenly realize your scalp is tight and itchy and your hair feels like straw? Yeah, harsh sulfates are to blame. Beyond shampoo and soaps, you’ll find these ingredients in laundry detergent and other household products, just FYI.

• Alcohols. Common alcohols like denatured alcohol, SD alcohol and, less commonly, isopropyl alcohol are often found in foundations, creams, toners and cleansers. They’re added for a few reasons, as a natural preservative, to give the product a lightweight, quick-absorbing feel, or to sop up excess oil, for example. But they can be both drying and irritating, especially if your skin is already dry, sensitive or prone to eczema, which further weakens the skin’s delicate acid mantle. To be clear, fatty alcohols, like cetyl, stearyl and cetearyl alcohol can actually be beneficial in small amounts, so it’s important to know the difference. And if you’ve heard that alcohol is a great skincare ingredient because it helps other ingredients, like vitamin C or retinol, absorb more effectively, that’s true, but it comes with a terrible price. While it can enhance absorption, it does so by damaging the skin’s acid mantle, which sets you up for long-term skin issues.

• Added fragrance. Both synthetic fragrance, which is developed in a lab, and natural fragrance, which originates from a natural source, can be labeled in skincare products as “fragrance,” with no further information. Here’s the thing, there’s no clinical need for fragrance in skincare. It’s added to cover up the scent of other ingredients and make a product smell better. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, unless a company is listing fragrance in the ingredients without disclosing what exactly it’s composed of. Still, dermatologists tend to agree it’s smarter to opt for fragrance-free products for the face, skin and eye area. As for artificial dyes, like FD&C and D&C colorants, they’re equally unnecessary and entirely cosmetic. They can irritate the skin, trigger allergies, disrupt the microbiome and contribute to acne and blemishes. 

• Strong acids and alkalis. High concentrations of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) and alkaline ingredients like baking soda can disrupt the skin’s oh-so-tempermental pH balance (and we’ve covered the dire importance of respecting your skin’s pH right here). Take salicylic acid, a common BHA. It’s often used for acne, but side effects, especially common with overuse, include dryness, peeling and increased sensitivity to the sun.

• Preservatives. To increase shelf life, manufacturers add ingredients like parabens,  formaldehyde releasers like DMDM hydantoin or methylisothiazolinone to their products. Great for product longevity, maybe, but bad news for you! Preservatives, which are commonly found in sunscreens, shampoos, and creams, are associated with a laundry list of health concerns. They can also be irritating and sensitize the skin.

• Benzoyl peroxide. While effective against acne, benzoyl peroxide can dry and disrupt the skin barrier, especially when it’s overused. It’s a frequent ingredient in cleansers and face washes.

• Retinoids. Often prescription only, retinoids are a concentrated form of retinol. The greater potency means they can be seriously drying and irritating. And when they’re not used properly, they wreak havoc on the acid mantle.

Long story short, scaling back your skin and scalp products to those that are made without potentially compromising ingredients, including those we’ve outlined here, is step one. Remember that in our society, it’s on the consumer to shop wisely. Products that actually do damage are pulled from the market after enough outraged shoppers have voiced their complaints. As the shopper, and ultimately the person applying these products directly to their largest organ, you need to be very clear on what exactly you’re using.

And that’s where detoxifying your skincare routine comes in. It’s not enough to look for labels and descriptors like “clean beauty,” which is marketing speak with no certification process and no actual definition. Clean by what standard? Beyond knowing what to avoid, you also need to be clear about what ingredients actually benefit your skin, and where to find them (more on that below!).

Why Less Is More For Great Skin

Skincare is more advanced than it’s ever been. But skincare problems, particularly inflammatory conditions like acne and rosacea, have only increased over the last few decades. There’s a very real disconnect, and people are starting to understand that overstripping the skin, thereby damaging its acid mantle and annihilating its microbiome, is just making things worse.

It’s simple, when you get right down to it: Using products with ingredients that strip the skin of its natural oils and good bacteria is the fastest way to compromise your skin’s protective barrier. Once that happens, you’ve effectively opened it up to attack from allergens and irritants, which only worsens the skin conditions you’re trying to resolve. It’s a nasty cycle, too. We reach for synthetic masks and moisturizers to soothe symptoms of compromise, like dryness and flakes, redness and sensitivity, but their ingredients just contribute to the problem.

That’s why taking a microbiome-friendly approach to skincare is absolutely critical. Look for products that support its natural regenerative systems by nourishing the acid mantle and preserving its microbiome. The best way to do that? Raw, living, organic skin and scalp care! At Shimmer Chef, our collection of plasters and balms are made from scratch from fresh, organic superfoods, which means they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to truly nourish the skin’s systems. We use a proprietary fermenting process that means the finished products are chock-full of prebiotics and probiotics to support the microbiome and its delicate acid mantle. Oh, and did we mention that they’re also compostable?

As mindful as we are of what goes into our formulas is what stays out. No synthetic ingredients of any kind. No added fragrance or dye. No harsh sulfates or drying alcohols. And zero preservatives, which is why our products are stored in the fridge. What’s more, our living formulations have earned the stamp of approval from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Made Safe certification, which speaks to the safety of individual ingredients from origin to how they’re processed.

Key Benefits To Detoxifying Your Skincare Routine

So, what happens when you learn how to give your skin what it craves? It’s good news for your skin, your health and even the planet.

• Happier, glowier skin. Breaking the conventional skincare cycle means sparing your skin from daily exposure to synthetic ingredients that make it so vulnerable. By switching to microbiome-friendly skincare, you’re supporting its innate regenerative systems and allowing it to thrive.

• Improved long-term health outcomes. Harmful compounds like parabens and phthalates have been linked to hormone disruption and potential long-term health risks, including certain cancers. Detoxifying your routine safeguards your health by minimizing exposure to these harmful additives. And honestly, that’s something you should do sooner rather than later.

• Sustainability. Chemical-laden skincare products aren’t just terrible for your skin, they’re tough on the planet. Opting for sustainable, toxin-free products reduces the release of harmful substances into the environment while supporting eco-friendly practices.

Making The Switch: 4 Steps To Detox Your Skincare

If this is all making so much sense and you’re ready to make the switch, good news! Creating a mindful skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these four simple steps for skin that’s so nourished, it glows.

1. Can’t Pronounce It? Ditch It. 

Scan your product labels. Ingredients that are hard to pronounce or unrecognizable are often synthetic chemicals or preservatives, so proceed with caution. Google anything you don’t recognize.

2. Let Your Skin Breathe. 

If you wear foundation or concealer daily, try skipping a day or two now and then to give your skin a chance to breathe. Going makeup-free is a simple way to minimize clogged pores and it helps promote a healthier complexion.

3. Be Simple And Consistent.

Your skin is a complex, resilient organ. The less you mess with it, the better! Follow a minimal routine with just a few go-to products, like a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. A simple routine reduces the risk of overwhelming your skin and encourages consistency for long-term results.

4. Prioritize Sleep.

Your skin regenerates overnight, making quality sleep essential. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep to allow your skin time to repair itself naturally. A well-rested complexion is naturally healthier and more radiant.

The Bottom Line

Detoxifying your skincare routine is about more than removing toxins, it’s about nurturing your skin to support its amazing regenerative systems. And it’s easy to do! Steer clear of ingredients that damage these systems. Nourish it with ingredients that support them. And in doing so, you’ll not only promote a healthy, glowing complexion, you’ll also minimize your exposure to harmful ingredients that are trouble for your long-term health and do the planet a favor. Everyone wins!

Chef Jennifer Sanford, the visionary behind Shimmer Chef, fuses her talents as a Health Supportive Culinary Arts Chef and licensed esthetician to develop formulas that radically transform your skin, scalp and hair. Jennifer brings a holistic approach to beauty and wellness, drawing on the wisdom of traditional healing remedies passed down through her family, as well as studies of the ancient art of Ayurveda through her yoga and meditation certifications.