Do the beauty products you use every day contain chemicals that are hazardous to your health? The David Suzuki Foundation says that they might.

A new report released by the foundation suggests there are a so-called "dirty dozen" chemicals found in 80 per cent of common cosmetic products. They say the 12 chemicals are linked to health and environmental problems, including reproductive disorders, asthma and allergies, and even the "big C" -- cancer.

The report discusses the findings of an online survey conducted earlier this year in which more than 6,200 Canadian participants were asked to inspect ingredient lists for 12 sets of potentially harmful chemicals, providing information for 12,500 personal care products.

Related: Read the full report

Study author and environmental health policy analyst Lisa Gue says better Canadian product labelling laws are needed so consumers know exactly what they're buying.

"One of our biggest concerns is that most of the things that make it onto the shelves -- the chemical ingredients that make up our personal care products -- haven't actually been tested for effect on human health, let alone the environment," she said.

Gue said the report identifies weaknesses in cosmetic labelling. Manufacturers aren't compelled to disclose specific ingredients, instead using the generic term "parfum" on ingredient lists – a move that could disguise the use of potentially harmful chemicals.

"Parfum" was the most commonly reported ingredient, identified in more than half of the products entered in the survey.

Gue calls the findings worrying.

"There's not enough research out there to show exposure over a long period of time to one, or a dozen, of chemicals in a product."

The dirty dozen list:

  • BHA or BHT
  • Coal tar dyes
  • DEA-related ingredients
  • Dibutyl phthalate
  • Formaldehyde-releasers
  • Parabens
  • Fragrance or Parfum
  • PEGs
  • Petrolatum
  • Siloxanes
  • Sodium laureth sulfate
  • Triclosan

The foundation recommends consumers read product labels carefully to avoid the chemicals and simplify their everyday beauty routines.

"Do you need a daytime cream, a nighttime cream, a hand lotion, a foot lotion? Maybe you can just source one without the dirty dozen and use that for your daily regime," Gue said.

"The nice thing is that you have control over your individual exposure."

An overwhelming amount of survey respondents – 98 per cent – said Canada's cosmetic labelling laws should be strengthened.

The issue of undeclared chemicals in products was brought back into the spotlight last month after Health Canada issued a warning about a popular hair treatment found to contain 12 per cent formaldehyde -- 60 times the limit allowed by law for cosmetics.

More than 200 people now have joined a B.C.-based class action lawsuit against the makers Brazilian Blowout, saying they experienced negative health side effects ranging from shortness of breath to hair loss.