Ingredients with a documented concern, from official datasets and our reviewed database.
Sensitive skin: Use with cautionDry skin: High cautionPregnancy: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Best avoidedEczema-prone: High caution
- Irritation:Dryness and peeling at exfoliating concentrations (0.5–2%).
The pore-clearing BHA exfoliant. Not for young children (salicylate absorption), used cautiously in pregnancy at low leave-on concentrations, and drying for compromised barriers.
surfactant · foaming agent
Severity 6/10EditorialSensitive skin: Best avoidedDry skin: Best avoidedBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Best avoided
- Irritation:The reference irritant used in dermatology research; strips barrier lipids.
Caredermis curated dermatological review
A powerful foaming cleanser so reliably irritating that dermatology studies use it as the standard positive control for skin irritation. Fine for many in rinse-off use, but a poor match for dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
surfactant · foaming agent
Severity 4/10EditorialSensitive skin: High cautionDry skin: Use with cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Irritation:Milder than SLS but still drying for compromised skin.
The gentler cousin of SLS used in most mainstream shampoos and washes. Its manufacturing can leave trace 1,4-dioxane, which reputable makers strip out — an issue of quality control rather than the ingredient itself.
fragrance · cooling agent
Severity 4/10EditorialSensitive skin: High cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Irritation:The cooling sensation is mild sensory irritation; can burn on damaged skin.
Provides a fresh tingle that is actually mild irritation; problematic on compromised or young skin.
cooling agent · fragrance
Severity 4/10EditorialSensitive skin: High cautionBabies & kids: Use with cautionEczema-prone: High caution
- Irritation:Sensory irritant; the cooling feeling signals nerve stimulation, not soothing.
The cooling molecule from mint. Refreshing on healthy skin but a genuine irritant for reactive, broken or infant skin.
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.
- 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.
- Allergy risk:Rare reports of sensitivity.
A widely approved blue dye with a benign cosmetic safety record.
Hexylene GlycolRegulatory dataIrritationEU CLP Skin Irrit. 2EU CLP Eye Irrit. 2