How many cosmetic ingredients are banned in the EU vs the US?

The European Union restricts or bans more than 1,600 ingredients in cosmetics and personal-care products under its Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009). The US Food and Drug Administration has banned or restricted only 11. That gap is why a product sold legally in America may contain ingredients prohibited in Europe.

Which banned beauty ingredients are most common in US products?

The most common EU-banned ingredients still found in US personal-care products include formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15), parabens (propylparaben, butylparaben), phthalates (diethyl phthalate), and certain fragrance allergens. Scan a product barcode to see which ones it contains.

Are US beauty products unsafe?

Not necessarily — but US cosmetics rules allow ingredients that other regulators have restricted out of caution. BannedPantry shows you exactly which ingredients in a product are flagged overseas and links to the regulatory source, so you can decide for yourself.

Beauty & Personal Care

1,600+ ingredients banned in the EU. 11 in the US. Scan your shelf.

The European Union restricts more than 1,600 ingredients in cosmetics and personal-care products. The US FDA restricts just 11. Below are the EU-banned beauty ingredients still legal in American products — grouped by category, each with regulatory citations.

Carcinogens, mutagens & reproductive toxicants

38 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Endocrine disruptors

23 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Formaldehyde releasers

29 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Fragrance allergens

16 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Parabens

9 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Phthalates

8 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Heavy metals

9 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Preservatives

13 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

UV filters

11 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Dyes & colorants

7 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

colorant

4 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

emollient

10 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

humectant

8 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

surfactant

15 personal-care ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.

Clean up your pantry, too.

Scan any barcode and instantly see if a product contains ingredients banned overseas — across food and personal care.

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