Cosmetic Ingredients Reference Guide & Dictionary - Understanding labels, descriptions, warnings, and safety.

Cosmetic Ingredients Reference Guide & Dictionary
Understanding Labels, Descriptions, Warnings, and Safety
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Name	Information
N
Nail Polish Remover	Highly flammable. Can dissolve many plastics. It can be fatal if swallowed. The conditioning ingredients do little to mitigate acetone's strongly drying and degreasing effects.
Nanoparticles	A UV absorber in cosmetics, barrier creams, sunscreen.
1-Naphthol	A hair dye in hair dyes and perfume, treatment for skin disease. *MSDS: Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed. Very toxic to aquatic organisms. Potential Health Effects Eye: Causes eye irritation. Skin: Causes skin irritation. Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Inhalation*: May cause respiratory tract irritation.
Natural	Ingredients produced entirely from extracts taken from plants or animals, with no synthetic substances or additives. It does not mean that it cannot harm.
Natural Spray	A spray in pump form, using no aerosol or chemical additives.
Neem seed oil	An antibacterial, antiviral in skin cream, soap, lipstick, shampoo, insect repellent. Improves dry skin, eczema, acne and dandruff. Teratogenic(?)
Neomycin	An antibiotic may be used in some underarm deodorants. Can cause allergic reactions, photoallergy, kidney toxicity, may promote staph infections.
Neotame	A sweetener. See Neotame (961) in food guide
Nerol	Used as sweetener, fresh citrus rose fragrance. Irritating to the eyes. Irritating to the respiratory system. Irritating to the skin. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. Take off immediately all contaminated clothing After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of ... (to be specified by the manufacturer). Do not empty into drains Never add water to this product Take precautionary measures against static discharges. This material and its container must be disposed of in a safe way. Wear suitable protective clothing
Nettle Leaf	Primarily used as a cleansing, detoxifying agent. Helps many skin conditions.
Niacinamide	An additive in hair conditioners, "anti-aging" products, cereal flours. Being a form of vitamin B3 it is considered to be beneficial.
Nickel sulphate	An additive in hair dyes, eye pencils, cosmetics, astringents, mineral supplement, nickel plating. Skin rash, kidney, endocrine and immunotoxicity, vomiting if ingested, contact dermatitis.
Nitrates	A preservative, colour fixative in cured meats, matches, tobacco. May combine with amines found in the stomach, saliva, foods and cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Nitrites	A preservative, colour fixative in cured meats, matches, tobacco. May combine with amines found in the stomach, saliva, foods and cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. Sodium nitrite is used as an anticorrosive in some cosmetics.
Nitrobenzene essence of mirabane	A fragrance, solvent used in cheap scented soaps, making analine a base for dyes and drugs, shoe polish. Cyanosis, drowsiness, headaches, nausea, reproductive, kidney, liver, respiratory, and neurotoxicity; absorbed through the skin; teratogenic. *MSDS: Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect. Toxic danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation and in contact with skin. Possible risk of impaired fertility. Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Potential Health Effects Eye: May cause eye irritation. May cause conjunctivitis. Skin: May cause skin irritation. Absorption into the body may cause cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood). Toxic in contact with skin. Ingestion: May cause irritation of the digestive tract. Effects may be delayed 2 to 4 hours. May cause dizziness, nausea, sense of suffocation, increased respiratory rate, vomiting, pallor, muscle twitching, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), delirium, collapse. Toxic if swallowed. Inhalation: Effects may be delayed. May cause respiratory tract irritation. Toxic if inhaled. Chronic*: May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by chocolate-brown colored blood, headache, weakness, dizziness, breath shortness, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of blood), rapid heart rate, unconsciousness and possible death. May impair fertility.
2-Nitro-p-phenylene diamine	A hair dye. See Coal tar.
Nitrocellulose	Flammable man-made substance. Used as an emulsifier and protective film in cosmetics, especially nail polish.
Nitrosamines	A contaminant in cosmetic products and shampoos with DEA, MEA, and TEA compounds unless removed by the manufacturer. It is also found in the air, tobacco smoke, pesticides, water, cured meats. Carcinogenic compounds formed from secondary amines (nitosating agents) and nitrous acid. Typical nitrosating agents used in cosmetic formulations are DEA, MEA, and TEA.
Nitrosating Agents	The following chemicals can cause nitrosamine contamination, which have been determined to form cancer in laboratory animals. There are wide and repeated concerns in the USA and Europe about the contamination of cosmetics products with nitrosamines. 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol Cocoyl Sarcosine DEA compounds Imidazolidinyl Urea Formaldehyde Hydrolysed Animal Protein Lauryl Sarcosine MEA compounds Quaternium-7, -15, -31, -60, etc Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate Sodium Laureth Sulphate Ammonium Laureth Sulphate Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate TEA compounds
Non-acnegenic	Will not clog oil glands to produce a break-out on people prone to acne.
Non-comedogenic	Does not clog oil glands to cause blemishes.
Nylon	A thickener used in mascara, eye shadow, highlighter, eyelash lengtheners. Generally considered safe, may cause allergic reaction in some.

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