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Home/Toxic Ingredients/Phthalates
Ingredient analysis · Hazard 9/10

Phthalates.

Also known as: diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), fragrance (may contain phthalates)

A group of plasticizing chemicals used to make cosmetics more flexible and fragrances last longer. Phthalates are potent endocrine disruptors linked to reproductive harm, developmental issues, and metabolic disorders.

Banned in EUHormone Disruptor
Hazard score

By the numbers.

1 = low concern, 10 = avoid.

Hazard Score
9
Avoid
Frequency risk

Risk by usage.

How risk shifts depending on how often you use products with Phthalates.

1-2x per week

Even low-level exposure is concerning for pregnant women and children.

Daily use

Daily phthalate exposure from cosmetics significantly increases urinary phthalate metabolite levels.

2+ times daily

Multiple product sources create substantial cumulative endocrine disruption. Avoid all phthalate-containing products.

Health risks

What the research says.

Potent endocrine disruptors that interfere with testosterone and thyroid hormones.

Environmental Health Perspectives, 2003 — phthalates and male reproductive development

Linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, and early puberty in girls.

Pediatrics, 2008 — prenatal phthalate exposure study

Associated with increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.

Environmental Health Perspectives, 2012

Often hidden in 'fragrance' on ingredient labels, making them difficult to avoid.

Regulations

Global status.

How phthalates is regulated in cosmetics around the world.

Banned in 5 countriesRestricted in 4No data for 2

100% of countries with data ban or restrict this ingredient

🇺🇸USA
Restricted
Details

DBP restricted in some states; no federal ban; DEHP not specifically banned by FDA.

🇪🇺EU
Banned
Details

DBP and DEHP banned under Annex II as CMR substances; DEP allowed.

🇬🇧UK
Banned
Details

Mirrors EU; DBP and DEHP banned; DEP allowed.

🇨🇦Canada
Restricted
Details

DBP and DEHP prohibited on Hotlist; DEP permitted.

🇯🇵Japan
No Data
🇰🇷S. Korea
Restricted
Details

DBP and DEHP prohibited; DEP permitted.

🇦🇺Australia
Restricted
Details

DBP and DEHP restricted; DEP allowed.

🇨🇳China
Banned
Details

DBP and DEHP prohibited per Safety Technical Standards.

🇧🇷Brazil
Banned
Details

DBP and DEHP prohibited by ANVISA.

🇮🇳India
No Data
🌏ASEAN
Banned
Details

DBP and DEHP banned under ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Annex II.

Why it’s used

The reason brands include it.

Act as solvents and fixatives in fragrances, and as plasticizers that improve product texture and flexibility in nail polishes and hair sprays.

0

products in our database

0

brands use it

4

product categories

Better alternatives exist. Brands choose phthalates because it’s cheap and effective, but safer options like essential oils (for fragrance), vegetable glycerin, natural plant-based fixatives deliver similar results without the health concerns.

Categories

Phthalates in product types.

Click a category to see every product containing phthalates.

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Safe alternatives

What to use instead.

essential oils (for fragrance)
vegetable glycerin
natural plant-based fixatives
fragrance-free formulations

What Numbrrrz uses instead

Numbrrrz products are 100% phthalate-free. We use no synthetic fragrance and disclose every ingredient on our labels.

Questions

Quick answers.

How can I avoid phthalates if they're hidden in fragrance?
Choose products labeled 'phthalate-free' or 'fragrance-free.' Under US law, companies can hide phthalates under the umbrella term 'fragrance' without listing them individually.
Are phthalates in cosmetics really harmful?
Yes. Studies consistently link phthalate exposure to reproductive harm, hormonal disruption, and developmental issues. The EU has banned several phthalates in cosmetics, and multiple countries restrict them.
Are phthalates banned in Europe?
Yes. The EU has banned DBP, DEHP, and several other phthalates from cosmetics entirely. The EU's REACH regulation also restricts phthalates in many consumer products. The US has no comparable ban on phthalates in cosmetics.
Can phthalates affect fertility?
Multiple studies link phthalate exposure to reduced sperm quality in men and endometriosis in women. A 2003 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that prenatal phthalate exposure was associated with altered male reproductive development. The evidence is strong enough that some researchers call phthalates a reproductive toxin.
What are other names for phthalates on labels?
Look for 'diethyl phthalate' (DEP), 'dibutyl phthalate' (DBP), 'dimethyl phthalate' (DMP), or 'di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate' (DEHP). However, phthalates hidden in 'fragrance' or 'parfum' will not be individually listed.
Does Numbrrrz contain phthalates?
No. Numbrrrz products are 100% phthalate-free and fragrance-free. Our lip balms contain only four ingredients -- Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Beeswax, and Vitamin E -- with nothing hidden and every ingredient disclosed.
Choose clean

Skip the phthalates.

Four organic ingredients. Zero toxins. The lip balm your body deserves.