38 ingredients · country by country
Ingredients to know
What each one is, why regulators restrict it, and whether it is allowed in Nigeria, Ghana, the UK, the European Union, the United States and Canada. To check a whole product, paste its ingredient list into the product check.
The ingredients behind most "toning" and bleaching-cream harm.
- Alpha-arbutinRestricted in European Union; also restricted in Nigeria.
- ArbutinRestricted in European Union; also restricted in Nigeria.
- Clobetasol & steroidsBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Rwanda and ASEAN countries; also banned in Nigeria.
- DeoxyarbutinBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- HydroquinoneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Ghana and Rwanda; restricted in Nigeria.
- Kojic acidRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MequinolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MonobenzoneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- TretinoinBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Toxic metals that should never be in skin products.
- ArsenicBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- LeadBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MercuryBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, Rwanda and Minamata Convention countries; also banned in Nigeria.
They keep products free of germs; a few release formaldehyde or cause allergy.
- Banned parabensBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- BronopolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- DMDM hydantoinRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- FormaldehydeBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Imidazolidinyl & diazolidinyl ureaRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MDBGNBanned in European Union; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Methylisothiazolinone (MI)Restricted in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Quaternium-15Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Common causes of allergy, and antibacterials under review.
- HexachloropheneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- LilialBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Lyral (HICC)Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- TriclocarbanRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- TriclosanRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Strong allergens and chemicals in dyes and smoothing treatments.
- "Black henna"Banned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- Coal tarBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- Glyoxylic acidNo specific restriction found in the places checked; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- PPD (hair dye)Restricted in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; also restricted in Nigeria.
- ResorcinolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- Zinc pyrithioneBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
Nail chemicals that can cause lifelong allergy or damage.
- HEMA (gel nails)Restricted in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- MMA (acrylic nails)Banned in Canada, Australia and New Zealand; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- TPO (gel nails)Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Ingredients restricted for hormone or other concerns.
- 4-MBCBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- BoratesBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- D4 & D5 siliconesBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- SilverRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- "Black henna"Banned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- 4-MBCBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- Alpha-arbutinRestricted in European Union; also restricted in Nigeria.
- ArbutinRestricted in European Union; also restricted in Nigeria.
- ArsenicBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Banned parabensBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- BoratesBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- BronopolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Clobetasol & steroidsBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Rwanda and ASEAN countries; also banned in Nigeria.
- Coal tarBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- D4 & D5 siliconesBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- DeoxyarbutinBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- DMDM hydantoinRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- FormaldehydeBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Glyoxylic acidNo specific restriction found in the places checked; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- HEMA (gel nails)Restricted in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- HexachloropheneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- HydroquinoneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Ghana and Rwanda; restricted in Nigeria.
- Imidazolidinyl & diazolidinyl ureaRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Kojic acidRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- LeadBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- LilialBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Lyral (HICC)Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MDBGNBanned in European Union; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MequinolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MercuryBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, Rwanda and Minamata Convention countries; also banned in Nigeria.
- Methylisothiazolinone (MI)Restricted in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- MMA (acrylic nails)Banned in Canada, Australia and New Zealand; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- MonobenzoneBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- PPD (hair dye)Restricted in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; also restricted in Nigeria.
- Quaternium-15Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- ResorcinolRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- SilverRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- TPO (gel nails)Banned in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
- TretinoinBanned in European Union, United Kingdom and ASEAN countries; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- TriclocarbanRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- TriclosanRestricted in European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.
- Zinc pyrithioneBanned in European Union and United Kingdom; its status in Nigeria is not confirmed.