With growing consumer awareness about the impact our purchases make, it’s been easier than ever to find products that bear the health of the individual and the environment in mind. With that being said, here’s a quick primer on some ingredients you should avoid when shopping for cosmetics.

Parabens make up some of the most toxic ingredients found in makeup today. A class of chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer, they are often found in soaps, shampoos, body washes, foundations and a whole range of daily toiletries and products. Fortunately, many mindful cosmetics companies have started labeling their products to indicate that they’re paraben-free.

“Don’t be fooled by the words ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ on the front of the label,” HealthGuidance.org further advises. “Many products contain at least one or two natural or organic ingredients, but they may also contain harmful synthetic chemicals as well.”

According to the news source, it’s also important to avoid products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), propylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), aluminum A, mineral oil, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and talc.

Remember – health and beauty go hand in hand, and a bit of mindfulness can go an especially long way.