Almond and Milk Hand Cream

A nutrient-rich oil pressed from sweet almond kernels, used to soften and condition skin. It is generally well tolerated, though people with tree nut allergies should patch test first, as it can rarely trigger allergic reactions.

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

A natural wax secreted by honeybees, used as an emollient and texture builder in balms and salves. It is generally well tolerated. People with bee or pollen allergies should patch test, as rare sensitization has been documented.

A plant-derived water or extract used mainly as a soothing humectant filler. Evidence for dramatic skin benefits beyond mild hydration and soothing is limited, but it is well tolerated by most people.

A mild white clay that absorbs excess oil and lightly buffs the skin surface in wash-off masks; it is well tolerated across skin types and rinses away cleanly.

A naturally occurring fatty acid (also made in the body and found in many foods) used to thicken lotions and help stabilize cleansing bars. It is one of the most well-studied emollient ingredients and is not a meaningful irritant at cosmetic use levels.

An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

Sodium phytate is a plant-derived chelating agent used to bind trace metals and stabilize formulas, often as a preservative booster alongside other preservatives. Available safety reviews have not identified meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A nutrient-rich carrier oil from soybean seeds containing linoleic and linolenic acids essential for barrier function. Phytoestrogen content is present but not absorbed systemically from topical application, graded low concern by regulatory assessments.

Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.

A polysaccharide extracted from red seaweed used to thicken and stabilize formulas. It is well tolerated in topical cosmetics; concerns from food ingestion studies are not directly applicable to cosmetic use. People with seaweed sensitivities should patch test.

A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.

The sodium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in both foods and cosmetics. Decades of safety review support its use at typical cosmetic concentrations, with mild irritation the main reported issue in sensitive skin.

A disaccharide (table sugar) that acts as a humectant to improve skin hydration and is a naturally occurring component of the skin barrier. It is well established as safe for topical cosmetic use with no known hazards.

A fast-evaporating solvent used to carry actives and give toners a light, "clean" feel; at the concentrations used in classic astringents it can be genuinely drying or irritating with repeated use, especially on dry or compromised skin, though it is not inherently toxic and is a normal, well-studied cosmetic ingredient.

A phospholipid emulsifier from soy or sunflower that binds water and oil and helps other ingredients absorb. It is a natural component of skin membranes, well tolerated, and reviewed as safe as used; a soy-derived grade is not a meaningful concern for a soy food allergy because the protein is largely absent.

A fat-soluble vitamin C ester that provides antioxidant activity on skin. It is more stable than free ascorbic acid and is graded low concern in published assessments, with rare reports of sensitization at high concentrations.

A plant-derived emollient and emulsifier made from glycerin and oleic acid, typically from olives or canola. Softens skin while stabilizing oil-water formulas; well tolerated at typical use levels.

A common emulsifier and texture-softener made from glycerin and stearic acid. CIR review of this class found no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, sensitizing, or phototoxic effects in the studies examined.

A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.

A spicy, clove-derived fragrance and flavor compound. It is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens because it can trigger contact allergy in sensitized individuals, though CIR review found it safe as typically used in cosmetics.

A floral fragrance component and one of the EU-labelled fragrance allergens. Usually fine, worth watching if you react to scented products.