Ingredients with a documented concern, from official datasets and our reviewed database.
Sensitive skin: High cautionPregnancy: Best avoidedBabies & kids: Best avoidedEczema-prone: High caution
- 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.
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: 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: 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.
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; 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; 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; 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; lemon-scented sensitizer.
The lemon-scent molecule in lemongrass and citrus oils, a recognized contact allergen requiring EU label declaration.
Babies & kids: Use with caution
- 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.
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 caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A common jasmine-scented ingredient in fine fragrance and skincare, declared as an allergen on EU labels.
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.
preservative · solvent · fragrance
Severity 3/10Sensitive skin: Use with cautionEczema-prone: Use with caution
- 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.
Sensitive skin: Use with caution
- Allergy risk:EU-declarable fragrance allergen.
A fragrance solvent and fixative that must be declared on EU labels as a potential allergen.
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.
- Environmental impact:vPvB classified; EU restriction from 2027 alongside D5.
A cyclic silicone facing the same 2027 EU environmental restrictions as D5.
- 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:Poorly biodegradable; can remobilize heavy metals in waterways.
A metal-binding stabilizer that is safe on skin at the tiny amounts used; its criticism is environmental persistence.
occlusive · skin protectant
Severity 2/10Editorial- Cancer concern:Concern applies only to unrefined grades containing PAHs; cosmetic grade is highly refined (EU-mandated).
The most effective occlusive known and a staple of eczema care. The cancer concern belongs to unrefined industrial grades — pharmaceutical-grade petrolatum in cosmetics is rigorously purified.