Beauty Experts Advise Concerned US Salon-Goers to Avoid Another Nine Harmful Ingredients Common in Cosmetics After the EU’s Ban of TPO-Based Manicures 

• The US still allows TPO use in cosmetics, despite the EU banning it from September 1.
• Other dangerous ingredients still allowed on the US market are found in eyelash glue, keratin hair treatments, toothpaste, anti-dandruff shampoos and baby care products.
• The EU prohibited over 1,700 substances from being used in cosmetics, while the FDA lists only 11.

European regulators currently prohibit over 1,700 substances in cosmetics, citing health or environmental risks, whereas the US FDA lists only 11 banned ingredients and restricts color additives.

As of September 1, beauty salons across the European Union are banned from using or stocking gel nail polish that contains Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), a photoinitiator that cures varnish under a UV or LED light. The US still allows it, despite concerns of its adverse effects on fertility and reproductive health.

Beauty gurus at Laser Hair Removalo share a list of other noteworthy substances still used in the US cosmetics industry while banned in the EU, UK or Australia due to safety concerns.

Nine Common Cosmetic Ingredients Banned in the EU, UK and/or Australia, But Allowed in the US

Ingredient (Type)	Common Uses	Banned/Restricted Outside the US	Status in the US
Formaldehyde (preservative, hair straightening agent)	Hair-smoothing treatments (e.g. Brazilian blowouts); nail hardeners; eyelash glue	Banned in the EU and the UK for cosmetics, where it is deemed a human carcinogen and respiratory irritant. Australia caps it at 0.2% in products, effectively prohibiting its use in treatments that need high concentrations	Allowed in US and used in some salon keratin hair treatments and nail products, though OSHA warnings apply. No FDA ban, but industry safety reviews advise limits
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) (phthalate plasticizer)	Nail polishes that improve flexibility and shine, also hidden in some fragrances	Banned in the EU, the UK and Australia where it is classified as a reproductive toxicant. Other phthalates like DEHP, BBP are banned in EU cosmetics as well for similar reasons	Allowed in the US, commonly used in polish but many US brands voluntarily removed it due to health concerns. Still, no law prevents its use, and phthalates can lurk under generic “fragrance” labels
Triclosan (antibacterial agent)	Antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, some cosmetics	Banned in the EU, where it is identified as an endocrine disruptor linked to hormonal problems and potential fertility issues. The EU took a precautionary stance due to concerns about thyroid and hormone effects. The UK follows the EU ban. Australia limits the use of triclosan up to 0.3% in most cosmetics	Allowed in the US in most cosmetics. The FDA banned triclosan only in hand and body washes, in 2017 as an over-the-counter active ingredient, but it is still permitted in products like toothpaste and cosmetics. Some US companies have removed it due to consumer pressure, but you can still find triclosan in a few personal care items
Certain Parabens (preservative)	Widely used in cosmetics to prevent mold/bacteria in lotions, creams and makeup	Five parabens are banned in the EU and the UK: isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl- and pentylparaben. This is due to potential hormone-disrupting effects). Other parabens like methyl- and propylparaben are allowed in the EU but strictly regulated to low concentrations. Australia similarly restricts parabens concentrations in cosmetics	Allowed in the US while the FDA maintains that parabens at typical concentrations are safe. Many newer US products market themselves as “paraben-free” due to consumer preference, even though legally parabens can be used
Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Lilial) (fragrance ingredient)	Fragrance in perfumes, lotions, and other scented cosmetics	Banned in the EU and the UK since 2022, after being classified as reprotoxic (linked to fertility issues in animal studies). Australia has also flagged Lilial as hazardous; and will likely be phased out	Allowed in the US, with no specific restriction. Products in the US may still contain Lilial in their “fragrance” blends. Many international brands reformulated globally once the EU ban hit, but if older formulas or certain US-only products could contain this scent additive
Zinc Pyrithione (antidandruff/antifungal)	Anti-dandruff shampoos as the active ingredient, and anti-fungal creams	Banned in the EU and the UK since 2022 for cosmetic use. Previously allowed in small amounts, it was delisted due to potential health and environmental concerns, possibly neurotoxicity. The EU ban led to reformulation of popular shampoos. Australia has not banned it yet	Allowed in the US, as an FDA-approved active ingredient in dandruff shampoos up to 1% in over-the-counter products
Selenium Sulfide (antidandruff/anti-fungal)	Medicinal dandruff shampoos, and anti-fungal treatments	Banned in the EU and the UK for cosmetics due to carcinogenic classification based on animal studies. The EU and Japan removed selenium sulfide from hair products due to toxicity concerns. In the UK, shampoos with selenium sulfide were pulled by 2022. Australia still allows it in stronger concentrations, such as 2.5% in pharmacy shampoos, but labels it a restricted poison	Allowed in the US as an approved active ingredient up to 1% in over-the-counter dandruff shampoos, and higher by prescription
Hydroquinone (skin lightener)	Skin lightening creams and dark spot fade treatments	Banned in the EU, the UK in over-the-counter skincare because it is seen as potentially carcinogenic and harmful to skin, much like many countries that prohibitted its use due to ochronosis risks, or skin discoloration, risks and other side effects. Australia only allows it as prescription-only medication for hyperpigmentation	Restricted in the US. Until 2020, low-dose hydroquinone was sold over the counter in fade creams, but the FDA has since banned over-the-counter sales. It is now available by prescription only in the US for treating hyperpigmentation
Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde-releasing preservative)	Preservative in shampoos, lotions, makeup, especially older formulations	Banned in the EU and the UK because it releases formaldehyde, a carcinogen, and can cause contact dermatitis and allergic reactions. This and several other formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin have been effectively prohibited or strictly limited in Europe for safety. Australia has not banned it, but Safe Cosmetics Australia harshly opposes its use, especially in children aged under 12	Allowed in the US. Quaternium-15 can still be found in some US personal care products, especially common in baby shampoos and liquid soaps. The US Cosmetic Ingredient Review recommends a concentration limit of 0.2%

“It is worth being an informed label-reader,” says Timca Pruijt, founder of Laser Hair Removalo. “The upside is that many cosmetic companies have global distribution, so when the EU bans something, big brands often reformulate worldwide rather than make a separate “US version” with the old ingredient. For instance, when Lilial and zinc pyrithione were banned in Europe in 2022, a lot of perfumes and shampoos sold in the US also quietly changed their formulas to comply globally.”

“As for safer manicures, you can ask your nail technician to only apply nail polish labeled as ‘TPO-free’ or choose less durable options, like traditional nail varnish used alongside high-quality base and top coats. You could also wear UV-resistant fingerless gloves to reduce UV exposure.”