Almond & Milk Hand Cream — 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:Drying when high on the ingredient list; negligible in trace amounts.

Plain ethanol — position on the label matters: near the top it is drying; near the bottom it is a harmless solvent trace.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; clove-scented sensitizer.

The clove scent molecule, a long-established contact allergen on the EU declaration list.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.