As one of the biggest pharma companies go to court over alleged links between talcum and cancer, we look at other controversial ingredients
		
	

	





	

		


        
            
        

        
    












		
		










		
		




	
	

	

		





	

	
	

	
	









	
	

	



	
	

		
			
			
			

				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				

				

				

   
   

    
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
        
        
          
          
		  
		
	

			

			
		

		
		

	
	
	
	
	

	
	
	

	
		
		
			
				There are commonly used cosmetic ingredients that have caused controversy in recent times
			
		

		
		
	



	

	
	






	







		

				
						
							
							





	

	
	

	
	





	
    
    

    
    
    
    
    
    

    
    
    

    
    
    

    
        
            

            

            
                

    
    
    
    
    
    

    
    

    
    

        
        

        
        
        

        
            
                
    
        
            Susanna Galton
        
    

                
    

            

            
                
    
    
        
	
		
	

    

            
        
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

        
            Susanna Galton is a journalist who’s worked across features, lifestyle, entertainment, celebrity and health during her 25 years on the nationals. 
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    Published 
        05 May 2026 3:30pm BST
        
    



						
					

				

				




Sprinkling the fine, sweet-smelling white powder over their freshly bathed baby’s bottom was, for many mothers, one of the more satisfying parts of a bedtime routine…