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.
Oily & acne-prone: High caution
- Pore-clogging:High comedogenicity rating in classic testing.
A close relative of isopropyl myristate with a similar pore-clogging reputation for acne-prone 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: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.
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.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A jasmine-type scent chemical on the EU mandatory declaration list.
Eczema-prone: Use with caution
- Irritation:Can enhance penetration of other ingredients; avoid on broken skin.
A common emulsifier; CIR advises against use on damaged skin because it can carry other ingredients deeper.
preservative booster · skin conditioning
- Irritation:Documented occasional contact allergy and eye irritation.
A preservative booster often paired with phenoxyethanol; low-risk overall with rare reports of contact allergy.
- 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.
Linalyl AcetateRegulatory dataAllergy riskEU CosIng Annex III (declarable / restricted)
