*Originally published in 2021, updated August of 2023.

Have you heard of Target Clean? The lime green symbol indicates a product is formulated without certain harmful ingredients. All Target Clean beauty, personal care, and cleaning products are formulated without the following:

Propylparabens and butylparabens
Phthalates
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-donors
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)
Oxybenzone
Sodium laureth sulfate
Retinyl palmitate
Hydroquinone
Triclosan and triclocarban
BHA and BHT
Aluminum (in deodorants)
Artificial sweeteners (in toothpaste)

Additionally, Target Clean feminine care, adult care, and diapers are free of added fragrance and chlorine. Target Clean pet foods do not have meat, poultry, or seafood as the first ingredient. They are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

““Choosing Target Clean products is a starting point but it is not foolproof. There are products you want to avoid within this category.””

Choosing Target Clean products is a starting point but it is not foolproof, and there are products you want to avoid within this category. For example, some contain other harmful ingredients such as the following:

PEGs (polyethylene glycols) - penetration enhancers that may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which are associated with reproductive, developmental, and endocrine effects, cancer, and DNA damage.
Fragrance – mix of fragrance and chemicals associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Can contain unnamed toxic ingredients like phthalates which are associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer.
Cocamidopropyl betaine – associated with allergies and contact dermatitis and can potentially contain impurities such as nitrosamines. There is strong evidence that nitrosamines are carcinogenic, and they are banned from Canadian cosmetics.
Phenoxyethanol -skin, eye, or lung irritant. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants. The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.” Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.
Methylisothiazolinone – allergenic preservative that is possibly neurotoxic based on lab studies on the brain cells of mammals. It is banned for use in cosmetics by the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and limited to .0015% of rinse off products.

Non-Toxic Target Favorites

W3ll People Cosmetics

Expressionist Brow Gel has a spooled applicator allows you to brush, fill in gaps, and add color in one quick step.

Expressionist Liquid Eyeliner applies easily with a thin felt tip applicator and stays put. Once dry, it becomes smudge proof and water resistant.

Bio Correct Multi-Action Concealer provides medium coverage with a super lightweight consistency.

Bio Brightener Baked Powder is a translucent setting powder that blurs pores and never looks cakey.

W3ll People Expressionist Liquid Eyeliner

Non-Toxic Bath, Body, and Cleaning Products

Alaffia bubble bath is a great non-toxic bubble bath for kids.

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser is a multi-purpose cleaner that can be used for sinks, toilets, stubborn spots on cookware and more.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap and Bar Soap are made with simple, effective, non-toxic and non-irritating ingredients and great for body wash and hand soap. Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lip Balm is an excellent swap for petroleum based lip balms.

Schmidt’s Kids’ Toothpaste is free of fluoride and artificial sweeteners and comes in fun flavors that kids enjoy.

References and Resources

[1] https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/14-dioxane-cosmetics-manufacturing-byproduct

[2] https://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/fda-warns-mothers-about-mommys-bliss-nipple-cream

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5093181/

[4] https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/proposition-65//p65list091319.pdf

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097177/

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14572300

[7] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cocamidopropyl-betaine#section=GHS-Classification

[8] http://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/amidoa022012SLR_forposting.pdf

[9] https://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/cocamidopropyl-betaine-0

[10]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16547166#targetText=Methylisothiazolinone%2C%20a%20neurotoxic%20biocide%2C%20disrupts%20the%20association%20of%20SRC%20family,kinase%20in%20developing%20cortical%20neurons.&targetText=Methylisothiazolinone%20(MIT)%20is%20a%20biocide,with%20potential%20as%20a%20neurotoxicant.

[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23340392

[12] https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i16/Preservative-leavecosmetics-banned-EU.html