Après rasage parfumé — ingredient safety report

• Hormone disruption:Classified as toxic to reproduction (CMR 1B); banned in the EU since March 2022.
• Allergy risk:Well-documented fragrance sensitizer.

The lily-of-the-valley scent 'Lilial', banned in EU cosmetics in 2022 after being classified as presumed toxic to human reproduction. Still legal in some other markets — check older or imported products.

• Irritation:Drying and barrier-disrupting in high-alcohol formulas with regular use.

Denatured ethanol gives products a fast-drying, weightless feel, but as a leading ingredient it degrades the skin barrier with repeated use — a poor match for dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

The lemon-scent molecule in lemongrass and citrus oils, a recognized contact allergen requiring EU label declaration.

• 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.

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

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Allergy risk:One of the 26 EU-declarable fragrance allergens.
• Irritation:Mild irritation possible at higher concentrations.

A preservative and fragrance component that must be declared on EU labels because it can trigger contact allergy in a small share of users.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.

A rose-type scent component on the EU's mandatory-declaration allergen list.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.

A violet-type scent chemical requiring EU allergen declaration.

• Allergy risk:Rare hypersensitivity reactions, better documented in food than cosmetics.

Tartrazine yellow dye; approved for cosmetics with rare sensitivity reactions reported.

• Allergy risk:Rare reports of sensitivity.

A widely approved blue dye with a benign cosmetic safety record.