If you think that cosmetics companies are telling you everything you need to know about their products, you are wrong. The positive information is broadcast in advertisements on the television and magazines, but there is important skin care information that is harder to find.

It might be that their products are not as effective as they would like you to believe, or even that there are harmful elements in it that can cause health problems. In fact, the main problem with many skin care products is that they can contain a high number of potentially harmful ingredients.

Most people know about parabens and the dangers that they pose. But there are many others which are just as harmful that cosmetics companies are not filling you in on. Here are a few of the ingredients which may not be talked about as harmful.

Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine and Monoethanolamine are three ingredients which are known to be carcinogenic (that is, they cause cancer). They are often used in products in order to keep the pH within acceptable limits and, at their mildest, can irritate the skin and eyes. Since they can also cause cancer, they have been banned in Europe and their carcinogenic properties are not normally talked about by many cosmetics companies.

Many cosmetics companies also do not want you to know what they are putting in their products under the blanket term "fragrance". There can be thousands of products which are licensed under the blanket of the term fragrance, and many of these are also known to cause cancer in high enough concentrations.

Triclosan is another ingredient which is commonly used in many skin care products. The skin care information that many companies will give you is that it is an antibacterial that is used safely in many products. If pressed, they may say that it can cause minor problems in people with sensitive skin. However, the truth is that this is a product which is also used in weed killers. As you can see, something that kills weeds is not a good thing to be putting on your face or skin.

It can be hard to trust cosmetics companies especially in light of the fact that so many of the ingredients are so harmful. If you are careful and choose products which contain natural ingredients and compounds you can feel confident that you will be in good shape and that your health will not suffer as a result of the beauty products you use.