Ingredients with a documented concern, from official datasets and our reviewed database.
Sensitive skin: High cautionPregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Best avoided
- Cancer concern:Releases small amounts of formaldehyde (IARC Group 1).
- Allergy risk:Recognized contact allergen, often cross-reacting with other releasers.
A widely used formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Releases less formaldehyde than DMDM hydantoin but still triggers allergy in formaldehyde-sensitized people.
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: 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; oxidation products are potent sensitizers.
The citrus-peel scent molecule. Like linalool, it becomes allergenic mainly after oxidizing in opened products.
Pregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with caution
- Environmental impact:Toxic to coral; banned in Hawaii alongside oxybenzone.
Caredermis curated dermatological review
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.
Babies & kids: Use with caution
- Irritation:Occasional stinging and irritation, mostly around eyes and on damaged skin.
Today's most common preservative, considered safe by the SCCS up to 1%. French authorities advise avoiding it in wipes and diaper-area products for children under 3 as a precaution.
Pregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with caution
A longer-chain paraben with measurable (though weak) estrogenic activity, prompting the EU to reduce its allowed concentration and Denmark to ban it in products for children under 3.
Pregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with caution
The paraben with the strongest endocrine signal in laboratory studies; the EU restricts it and bans it in leave-on diaper-area products for young children.
- Environmental impact:vPvB classified; EU restriction from 2027 alongside D5.
A cyclic silicone facing the same 2027 EU environmental restrictions as D5.
- 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.