Ingredients with a documented concern, from official datasets and our reviewed database.
Sensitive skin: Best avoidedPregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Best avoidedEczema-prone: Best avoided
- Allergy risk:Fragrance is the single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy.
- Irritation:Frequent trigger of stinging and redness on reactive skin.
Caredermis curated dermatological review
An umbrella term that can hide dozens of undisclosed scent chemicals. Fragrance is the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetics, and dermatologists routinely advise fragrance-free products for eczema, babies and sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin: Best avoidedPregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Best avoidedEczema-prone: Best avoided
- Allergy risk:Potent sensitizer, typically blended with MIT (Kathon CG).
- Irritation:Corrosive in concentrate; irritating at use levels.
Caredermis curated dermatological review
The chlorinated partner of MIT, restricted in the EU to rinse-off products only. A leading cause of preservative contact dermatitis worldwide.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionDry skin: High cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Irritation:Drying and defatting to the skin barrier.
Rubbing alcohol; used as a solvent in some products and drying to skin in meaningful concentrations.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; oxidized linalool is a common patch-test positive.
A floral scent molecule found in lavender and many essential oils. It oxidizes on air exposure into strongly sensitizing compounds, which is why it must be declared on EU labels.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; use concentrations limited by industry standards.
A synthetic lily-of-the-valley scent and well-documented contact allergen.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen with well-documented sensitization.
A rose/geranium scent molecule and one of the more frequently positive fragrance allergens in patch testing.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year 2018.
- Irritation:Can irritate compromised skin at higher concentrations.
A workhorse humectant and penetration enhancer that is fine for most, but a recurring culprit in eczema patients' patch tests.
preservative · solvent · fragrance
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:One of the 26 EU-declarable fragrance allergens.
- Irritation:Mild irritation possible at higher concentrations.
A preservative and fragrance component that must be declared on EU labels because it can trigger contact allergy in a small share of users.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A common jasmine-scented ingredient in fine fragrance and skincare, declared as an allergen on EU labels.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A rose-type scent component on the EU's mandatory-declaration allergen list.
- Environmental impact:Poorly biodegradable; can remobilize heavy metals in waterways.
A metal-binding stabilizer that is safe on skin at the tiny amounts used; its criticism is environmental persistence.
