The "Without" List
This is our master list of ingredients we flag as potential concerns. The presence of an ingredient here doesn't mean it's universally "bad"—context matters. This list is a starting point for your own research.
Flagged Ingredients
A consolidated list of ingredients flagged as concerns across all categories on our site.
| Ingredient | Reason for Concern |
|---|---|
| Added Salt | Sodium added during manufacturing that places unnecessary strain on immature infant kidneys and establishes a preference for salty foods that persists into adulthood. |
| Added Sugars | Any sugars added beyond what naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables, including glucose syrup, sucrose, and dextrose, which establish unhealthy taste preferences and contribute to early childhood obesity. |
| Alcohol (Ethanol) | Strictly avoided in baby wipes to prevent extreme skin dehydration and burning on sensitive areas. |
| Alcohol Denat | A drying alcohol used as a quick-drying agent that strips the skin's natural barrier, causing irritation and dryness, particularly after shaving. |
| Aluminium Compounds | The active ingredient in antiperspirants that blocks sweat ducts, flagged for potential links to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease due to absorption through the skin. |
| Artificial Colours | Synthetic food dyes with no nutritional value that are flagged for potential links to hyperactivity and behavioural issues in young children whose developing systems are more vulnerable to chemical exposure. |
| Artificial Flavours | Synthetic chemical compounds used to create or enhance flavour that mask the natural taste of real ingredients and are entirely unnecessary in products for infants. |
| Avobenzone | While effective, it can be unstable and cause skin sensitivity when it breaks down in sunlight. |
| Baking Soda (High Concentration) | While natural, high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate disrupt the skin's pH balance, causing painful underarm rashes and irritation in many users. |
| Benzalkonium Chloride | A harsh antimicrobial agent that can be overly drying and irritating for daily use on baby skin. |
| BHA & BHT | Synthetic antioxidants used to preserve fats in biscuits that are suspected endocrine disruptors and under investigation for potential carcinogenicity. |
| Bleached Flour | Refined flour treated with chemical whitening agents like benzoyl peroxide, which strips away natural nutrients and fiber. |
| Carrageenan | A seaweed-derived thickening agent that some research links to intestinal inflammation, making it particularly unsuitable for the immature and sensitive digestive systems of infants. |
| Chlorine | Excluded from the manufacturing process to ensure no toxic dioxin byproducts remain in the wipe material. |
| Coal Tar | Used in some medicated shampoos but flagged as a potential carcinogen and skin irritant. |
| Dimethicone | A specific silicone that creates a plastic-like film on the hair, often causing it to become limp and greasy. |
| Drying Alcohols (Denatured/Isopropyl) | Evaporative alcohols that strip the skin's natural lipid barrier, causing immediate dehydration and long-term irritation. |
| Flavour Enhancers | Compounds like yeast extract used to boost palatability that are not appropriate for infants whose palates should be developing through exposure to real whole food flavours. |
| Formaldehyde | A known carcinogen sometimes released by certain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth in the bottle. |
| Formaldehyde Releasers | Preservatives that slowly emit formaldehyde—a known carcinogen—to extend shelf life, potentially irritating the skin and lungs. |
| Heavy Silicones | High-grade silicones like Dimethicone that can create an occlusive film, potentially trapping bacteria or causing "pilling" on certain skin types. |
| High Fructose Corn Syrup | An industrial sweetener that spikes blood sugar levels rapidly and is a primary driver of metabolic issues like insulin resistance. |
| High Intensity Sweeteners | Ingredients like Aspartame or Sucralose often used in "sugar-free" biscuits that can negatively impact gut microbiome health. |
| Homosalate | A chemical filter that may accumulate in the body and impact hormonal balance. |
| Hydrogenated Fats | These are man-made trans fats that significantly raise bad cholesterol (LDL) and are linked to heart disease even in small amounts. |
| Maltodextrin | A highly processed starch filler with a higher glycaemic index than table sugar, used to bulk out products cheaply with no nutritional benefit for growing infants. |
| Methylisothiazolinone (MI) | A powerful preservative that is a leading cause of painful allergic skin reactions. |
| Mineral Oil | A petroleum byproduct that sits on top of the scalp, potentially clogging pores and preventing natural moisture. |
| Mineral Oil & Petrolatum | Petroleum byproducts that sit on top of the skin; while occlusive, they can feel excessively greasy and may clog pores for acne-prone individuals. |
| Octinoxate | Linked to endocrine disruption and environmental damage to marine life. |
| Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) | A common chemical filter flagged for potential hormone disruption and coral reef toxicity. |
| Palm Oil | A cheap fat used for texture and shelf stability in baby food that research suggests may interfere with calcium and fat absorption in infants when used as a substitute for the fat profile found in breast milk. |
| Parabens | Chemical preservatives used to extend shelf life that are flagged for their ability to mimic oestrogen and disrupt hormonal balance. |
| PEG Compounds | Flagged because the manufacturing process can result in contamination with 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen. |
| PFAS (Forever Chemicals) | Persistent synthetic chemicals often used for texture that are linked to long-term health risks and environmental bioaccumulation. |
| Phenoxyethanol | A preservative frequently excluded because it can cause skin reactions or eczema flare-ups in newborns. |
| Phthalates | Hidden in synthetic fragrances to make scents last longer, flagged for links to reproductive and developmental disruption. |
| Plastic (Polyester) | Avoided to prevent environmental microplastic pollution and ensure the wipe is fully compostable. |
| Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) | Thickeners that may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen, during manufacturing. |
| Preservatives | Chemical additives including sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate used to extend shelf life, entirely unnecessary in properly heat-processed baby food and potentially harmful to developing systems. |
| Propylene Glycol | A penetration enhancer that helps other chemicals absorb deeper into the skin, flagged for causing allergic reactions and skin irritation. |
| Refined Grains | Heavily processed grains stripped of their bran and germ layers, removing the majority of fibre, vitamins, and minerals leaving only empty calories. |
| Silica | Synthetic silica particles used as an abrasive or absorbent that can cause irritation and are flagged for inhalation risks during manufacturing. |
| Silicones | Coating agents that provide temporary shine but can lead to heavy product build-up and "suffocate" the hair over time. |
| Sodium (High) | Excessive added salt used to enhance palatability in cereals that contributes to high blood pressure, particularly concerning in cereals marketed to children. |
| Sodium Benzoate | A common preservative that, when combined with certain acids, can form small amounts of benzene, a known carcinogen. |
| Sodium Metabisulfite | A chemical preservative and bleaching agent that can trigger respiratory issues, especially in individuals with asthma or sulfite sensitivities. |
| Starch Thickeners | Modified starches used to improve texture and extend shelf life that dilute the nutritional density of baby food without providing any nutritional benefit to the infant. |
| Sulfates | Harsh cleansing agents (like SLS/SLES) that can strip natural oils and cause scalp irritation or dryness. |
| Synthetic Fragrance | An undisclosed blend of chemicals that is one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis and allergic reactions in personal care products. |
| Talc | A mineral used to absorb moisture that may be contaminated with asbestos fibres and has been flagged for links to respiratory issues and cancer. |
| Tertiary Butylhydroquinone | A synthetic antioxidant preservative (E319) used to prevent oils from going rancid, but heavily scrutinized for long-term health effects. |
| Triclosan | An antimicrobial agent that has been flagged for contributing to antibiotic resistance and disrupting thyroid hormone regulation. |