After Sun Lotion: Calm & Comfort — ingredient safety report

• Irritation:Drying and barrier-disrupting in high-alcohol formulas with regular use.

Denatured ethanol gives products a fast-drying, weightless feel, but as a leading ingredient it degrades the skin barrier with repeated use — a poor match for dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

• Allergy risk:Fragrance is the single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy.
• Irritation:Frequent trigger of stinging and redness on reactive skin.

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.

• Pore-clogging:High comedogenicity rating in classic testing.

A close relative of isopropyl myristate with a similar pore-clogging reputation for acne-prone skin.

• Irritation:Sensory irritant; the cooling feeling signals nerve stimulation, not soothing.

The cooling molecule from mint. Refreshing on healthy skin but a genuine irritant for reactive, broken or infant skin.

• 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.

• 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.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; oxidation products are potent sensitizers.

The citrus-peel scent molecule. Like linalool, it becomes allergenic mainly after oxidizing in opened products.

• 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.

• Environmental impact:Toxic to coral; banned in Hawaii alongside oxybenzone.

A UVB filter under regulatory re-review for hormonal effects and banned in some reef regions; steadily being replaced by newer filters in modern sunscreens.

• 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.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.

A rose-type scent component on the EU's mandatory-declaration allergen list.

• Environmental impact:Not biodegradable; accumulates in the environment via wash-off.

The workhorse silicone — inert and non-sensitizing on skin (even FDA-approved as a skin protectant), with persistence in the environment as its main criticism.

• 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.

• Allergy risk:Rare Asteraceae cross-reactions in ragweed-allergic individuals.

A gentle calming botanical; the rare reactions occur mostly in people allergic to ragweed-family plants.