Bombee Honey Mask

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

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

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

A resinous substance bees make from plant exudates, added to cosmetics for antioxidant and marketed "healing" properties. Contact-allergy reviews put patch-test positivity around 1 to 7 percent in tested dermatitis populations, concentrated in beekeepers and people already sensitized to fragrance or poplar-bud resins, so it is worth patch-testing if you have a history of contact allergies or bee-product sensitivity.

A cellulose derivative used to thicken and stabilize formulas. It dissolves fully in water and does not separate or settle over time. It is well tolerated and widely used in gels, lotions, and serums.

A synthetic copolymer used to thicken and stabilize gels, serums, and emulsions. CIR has determined it is safe as used in cosmetics. The polymer is high molecular weight, which minimizes penetration and contact sensitization risk.

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 disaccharide sugar that acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and helping prevent dryness. It is well tolerated and commonly found in skincare formulas designed to support skin barrier health.

A higher-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol ester of hydrogenated castor oil, used as an emulsifier in creams, serums, and other formulations. Like other PEG-modified ingredients, published cosmetic safety assessments grade it as safe in rinse-off and leave-on products.

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

Carbomer is a synthetic polymer used purely to thicken and stabilize gels and lotions, with negligible skin penetration due to its large molecular size. Safety reviews have found low toxicity and minimal irritation potential even in leave-on use.

A basic amino acid naturally found in skin that draws moisture into the stratum corneum. It is well tolerated in cosmetics at typical concentrations and has been used safely in skincare formulations for decades.

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 soothing, skin-conditioning compound (also found in comfrey root) commonly added to calm and hydrate irritated or sensitive skin. It has a long history of safe use with very low irritation potential.

A salt form of glycyrrhizic acid, a compound from licorice root prized for soothing irritated skin. It is well tolerated at cosmetic levels and has a long history of use in skincare formulations.

A humectant that holds water at the skin surface for a more hydrated look. No safety concern.

A soothing plant extract traditionally used in skincare, valued for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. Published assessments note it is generally well tolerated in cosmetic formulations, though people with sensitivities to botanicals may want to patch test.

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 traditional East Asian medicinal extract containing berberine and other alkaloids, used in cosmetics for antimicrobial and antioxidant claims. Modern cosmetic safety data is limited; it is generally reported as well tolerated, though patch testing is advisable for those with a history of contact sensitivity to botanicals.

A warming root extract with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some individuals report mild warming or tingling sensations; those with sensitive skin should start with lower concentrations or patch test first.

Green tea extract is a well-studied topical antioxidant with a long history of use in serums and moisturizers, generally well tolerated at cosmetic concentrations. Panel safety reviews of Camellia sinensis-derived ingredients have not identified meaningful topical hazard.

An essential oil from grapefruit peel rich in limonene and other furocoumarins. It is a fragrance allergen that carries phototoxicity risk, particularly in sun-exposed areas; some formulations concentrate enough to cause phototoxic reactions in sensitive individuals.

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.