Sport Deodorant

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 small humectant and solvent molecule that helps other ingredients dissolve and helps skin hold water. It is one of the most studied cosmetic ingredients and is considered safe at the concentrations used in personal care products.

A citrate ester used as a solvent and plasticizer in cosmetics to dissolve active ingredients and adjust texture. It is well tolerated and widely used in formulations without documented safety concerns.

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.

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

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

A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.

A glycol used very widely in Korean and Western skincare as a lightweight humectant, solvent, and gentle preservative-booster, often in place of traditional preservatives. It has a low reported irritation rate at use levels and is graded low concern in published assessments.

Caprylyl glycol is a plant-derived humectant that also has mild antimicrobial properties, so it is commonly paired with other preservatives to allow lower overall preservative levels. Available data do not point to meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A cooling agent derived from menthol that creates a tingling or cooling sensation on skin without the strong burn of menthol itself. It can irritate or sensitize reactive skin types, particularly in leave-on formulations or at higher concentrations, making it most suitable for rinse-off products or diluted formulas.

An ester component found in lavender and other botanical fragrances. It is one of the EU's named fragrance allergens due to documented contact sensitization in dermatitis patients, particularly after oxidation and degradation of the parent materials over time.

A natural fragrance component found in citrus oils and lemongrass, giving a lemony scent. It is a named EU fragrance allergen that can oxidize into potent contact allergens over time; people with known fragrance sensitivities may react.