At HONEST, our mission is and has always been to create safe, effective products that work. For us, clean beauty begins with the ingredients not found in our products. Our Honest Beauty NO List^TM is the foundation of the guiding principles we call our Honest Standard. Our NO List™ is made up of category-specific lists, because what causes an ingredient/material to pose a risk is dependent on how and where it’s used. The Honest Standard for our Cosmetics portfolio ensures that the following will never be in any of our make-up products.

MADE WITHOUT:

WHAT IS IT:
An antioxidant added to increase shelf life and prevent products from going bad.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Consumer safety. BHT has been flagged as a potential carcinogen and is being reviewed as a potential endocrine disruptor in Europe.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Vitamin E, and the reality that product performance declines over time so a shelf life longer than 3 years isn't practical anyway.

WHAT IS IT:
A buffering agent to increase product pH.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Consumer safety. Aminomethyl Propanol and Aminomethyl Propanediol (AMPs) may be contaminated with nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Sodium Hydroxide OR having an Honest in-house toxicologist who researched ideal product pH for eye safety and determined the pH of our mascara already hit the mark for safety.

WHAT IS IT:
A preservative to prevent microbial growth in a product.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Consumer safety. Chlorphenesin has been linked to immune effects in laboratory animals and toxicity to eye glands in laboratory tests.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Toxicologist audited preservatives or a mixture of gentler preservatives that make sense for the product type. We also like to pick preservatives that are known to have skin soothing and antioxidant benefits. Double win!

WHAT IS IT:
Volatile compounds and preservatives used to increase dry down of mascaras and increase product shelf life.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Consumer safety. Alcohol/ Phenethyl Alcohol/ Benzyl Alcohol are volatile ingredients which may cause eye irritation, especially for those with sensitive eyes. When formulating our mascara, eye safety + comfort was at the forefront of our development. EXTREME VOLUME MASCARA + LASH PRIMER is safe for sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers, & ophthalmologist tested.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Our Honest in-house toxicologist who can vet each ingredient based on where and how it will be used. Eyes are sensitive and require extra consideration from a product development standpoint.

WHAT IS IT:
EDTA is a chelating agent, or ingredient that binds free metals ions, which helps to prevent product degradation and extend shelf life.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Eco-tox concerns. Many EDTA compounds have been classified as persistent or hazardous to aquatic life. Since they are not properly removed in wastewater treatment and seem not to breakdown in the environment, there is concern over long-term environmental effects.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, the green chelating agent. Is it as cheap as EDTA? No. But we sleep better at night knowing we made the right choice for the planet.

WHAT IS IT:
A synthetic film former. Upon mascara dry down, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer literally creates a film around the lashes, binding the product to the lashes and creating volume (think nail polish, but for your lashes). Longwear and water resistance are key benefits of synthetic film formers.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Eco-tox concerns. Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer is a petroleum-derived polymer that is classified as persistent by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The CEPA also lists Strene Acrylates Copolymer as possible microbead in toiletries.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
A ton of plant-derived film formers! Some for water resistance, some for oil resistance, and some plant-based waxes as well. Was it easy to replace? Nope. But thats why we have in-house experts working tirelessly on every new product.

WHAT IS IT:
A synthetic film former. Upon mascara dry down, VP/Eicosene Copolymer literally creates a film around the lashes, binding the product to the lashes and creating volume (think nail polish, but for your lashes). Longwear and water resistance are key benefits of synthetic film formers.

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Eco-tox concerns. VP/Eicosene Copolymer is a petroleum-derived polymer that is classified as persistent by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
A ton of plant-derived film formers! Some for water resistance, some for oil resistance, and some plant-based waxes as well. Was it easy to replace? Nope. But thats why we have in-house experts working tirelessly on every new product.

WHAT IS IT:
Love a creamy mascara? That's the waxes' job. And petro-derived waxes are cheap, they work, they have great stability and come in a variety of types to meet every formulator's needs.

OFTEN DISGUISED AS:
Paraffin, Ceresin, Microcrystalline Wax, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, and Synthetic Wax

WHY WE DON'T USE IT IN OUR MASCARA:
Sustainability. Petro-derived waxes come from the non-renewable material petroleum. We prefer to use more sustainable options.

SAFER ALTERNATIVES WE USE INSTEAD:
Natural waxes! Yes, they are more expensive, require more expert formulating, & testing to find the perfect blend BUT that's why we have an in-house lab team of experts in clean beauty.