Ingredients with a documented concern, from official datasets and our reviewed database.
Oily & acne-prone: Best avoided
- Pore-clogging:One of the most consistently comedogenic emollients in rabbit-ear and human assays.
A silky-feel emollient that repeatedly tops comedogenicity rankings — acne-prone users should watch for it in face products.
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 avoidedBabies & kids: Best avoidedEczema-prone: Best avoided
- Allergy risk:So allergenic the EU banned it outright in 2021.
The fragrance 'Lyral', banned in the EU since 2021 after becoming one of the most frequent causes of fragrance allergy in Europe.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:Contains linalool/linalyl acetate that oxidize into sensitizers.
A calming-scented essential oil whose main components become allergenic as they oxidize; a regular cause of 'natural product' dermatitis.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; clove-scented sensitizer.
The clove scent molecule, a long-established contact allergen on the EU declaration list.
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: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; oxidation products are potent sensitizers.
The citrus-peel scent molecule. Like linalool, it becomes allergenic mainly after oxidizing in opened products.
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.
Pregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with caution
- Irritation:Gentler than retinol but still a retinoid.
A weak retinoid whose contested photocarcinogenicity data suggests keeping it to night products; avoided in pregnancy like all retinoids.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A violet-type scent chemical requiring EU allergen declaration.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A jasmine-type scent chemical on the EU mandatory declaration list.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A floral fixative on the EU allergen list, with early-stage evidence of weak hormonal activity being evaluated by regulators.
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.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen found in tonka bean and many perfumes.
A sweet hay-scented molecule requiring EU allergen declaration; a regular positive in fragrance patch-test series.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A floral scent molecule with deodorizing properties, on the EU's mandatory allergen declaration list.
Oily & acne-prone: Use with caution
- Pore-clogging:Cosmetic grade is minimally comedogenic despite its reputation.
Highly refined mineral oil is an inert, non-sensitizing emollient. Its bad reputation comes from industrial-grade oils that are never permitted in cosmetics.
CI 26100Regulatory dataAllergy riskEU CosIng Annex III (declarable / restricted)