Men Protect & Care

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

An aluminum salt used in antiperspirants to temporarily plug sweat ducts and reduce underarm wetness. Regulatory safety reviews have not found credible evidence linking its cosmetic use to breast cancer or Alzheimer disease.

A synthetic emollient made from stearyl alcohol and propylene oxide, used to give antiperspirant roll-ons and creams a light, non-greasy glide. Data are thinner than for older emollients, but what exists shows good tolerance, and CIR reviews of related PPG ethers found them safe as used.

A gentle surfactant derived from stearyl alcohol and ethylene oxide. It is used to stabilize emulsions and is well tolerated in rinse-off and leave-on formulas. Approved for cosmetic use.

A surfactant derived from stearyl alcohol with a higher degree of ethoxylation than Steareth-2, providing enhanced emulsification. It is graded safe for cosmetic use and well tolerated.

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 humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A soothing humectant that helps skin and hair look conditioned. Very well tolerated.

A fatty alcohol emollient that softens and conditions skin. The CIR Expert Panel concluded it is safe as used in cosmetics, with this determination originally made in 1985 and reaffirmed in 2006.

A rich botanical oil from avocado fruit, used to nourish and soften the skin. It is generally well tolerated across skin types and provides conditioning benefits.

A chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and preservatives working properly. It is not a functional skincare "active" and only a very small amount is used, with minimal skin penetration expected.

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

A sweet, hay-like fragrance ingredient naturally found in tonka bean and lavender. It is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens and is also subject to an EU maximum concentration limit in finished cosmetic products.

A floral, rose-like fragrance compound found in many essential oils. It is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens, meaning a documented minority of people can develop contact sensitization, so brands must disclose it above set thresholds.