Natural — ingredient safety report

• 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.

• Irritation:Phototoxic; increases sunburn risk on exposed skin.
• Allergy risk:High limonene content oxidizes into sensitizers.

A citrus oil that is both phototoxic in sunlight and increasingly allergenic as its limonene oxidizes.

• 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.

• Pore-clogging:Unlike hydrogenated squalane, unsaturated squalene can oxidize and contribute to comedones.

The unsaturated precursor of squalane; prone to oxidation, which is why the stable hydrogenated form (squalane) is preferred.

• Irritation:Occasional transient stinging or redness on sensitive skin.

A mild food-grade preservative usually paired with sodium benzoate; well tolerated by most skin types.

• 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.

• Irritation:Can cause transient, non-allergic flushing/stinging on reactive skin.

A food-grade preservative generally regarded as one of the gentler options; occasional non-immune stinging is its main drawback.