Shampoing reconstructeur — ingredient safety report

• 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.

• 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.

• Allergy risk:EU-declarable allergen; use concentrations limited by industry standards.

A synthetic lily-of-the-valley scent and well-documented contact allergen.

• 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 with well-documented sensitization.

A rose/geranium scent molecule and one of the more frequently positive fragrance allergens in patch testing.

• Allergy risk:Named Allergen of the Year 2004; impurities (amidoamine) drive most reactions.

A mild coconut-derived surfactant in countless 'gentle' cleansers. Most allergy is caused by manufacturing impurities, so quality varies by brand.

• 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.

• 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 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:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.

A common jasmine-scented ingredient in fine fragrance and skincare, declared as an allergen on EU labels.

• Cancer concern:IARC 2B by inhalation only — relevant to loose powders and sprays, not creams.

A mineral UV filter and pigment that is one of the safest sunscreen choices in cream form; the inhalation-based cancer classification only matters for powder and spray formats.

• Environmental impact:Not biodegradable; accumulates in the environment via wash-off.

The workhorse silicone — inert and non-sensitizing on skin (even FDA-approved as a skin protectant), with persistence in the environment as its main criticism.

• Environmental impact:Skin-safe; the ingredient's controversy is ethical (mining labor), not toxicological.

The shimmer mineral in highlighters and glowy creams; safe on skin, with sourcing ethics being its real controversy.

• 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.