Skincare guide
Top 7 potentially harmful cosmetic ingredients (and how to spot them in 60 seconds)
A practical list of ingredients many people prefer to avoid. Learn how to quickly spot hidden red flags in your product INCI.
You buy an expensive cream labeled “Natural” or “Eco”, but your skin reacts with dryness or breakouts. Very often the reason is on the back of the packaging — the tiny INCI list.
Marketing can promise miracles, but chemistry is predictable. Below is a list of 7 ingredient groups you may want to treat with extra caution (or avoid), plus what to look for on the label.
1) Harsh sulfates (SLS/SLES)
How to spot: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
Cheap cleansing agents that remove oil very well… and can also strip the skin barrier.
- Why it can be an issue: dryness, tightness, irritation; can trigger dermatitis in reactive skin.
- Where it may be OK: rinse-off products (shampoo, body wash) for non-sensitive users. For facial cleansers, many people prefer gentler surfactants.
2) Formaldehyde & formaldehyde releasers
How to spot: DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15.
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde to keep products from spoiling.
- Why it can be an issue: strong allergen; can cause contact dermatitis.
- Better alternatives: modern preservative systems such as Phenoxyethanol or Ethylhexylglycerin (depends on the full formula).
3) Simple “drying” alcohols
How to spot: Alcohol Denat., Ethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol.
Do not confuse them with fatty alcohols (Cetyl, Stearyl) which are usually barrier-friendly.
- Why it can be an issue: barrier disruption, increased sensitivity, rebound oiliness.
- Rule of thumb: may be acceptable in targeted acne treatments, but many people avoid them in daily leave-on creams.
4) Mineral oil / petrolatum for acne-prone skin
How to spot: Mineral Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum, Petrolatum.
These ingredients are generally inert and often useful for very dry skin, but they create an occlusive film.
- Why it can be an issue: for some acne-prone users, heavy occlusion can worsen congestion.
- Rule of thumb: great for body and very dry/atopic skin; use with caution on congestion-prone faces.
5) Fragrance / parfum
How to spot: Fragrance, Parfum.
A single word can hide dozens of aroma chemicals (trade secret).
- Why it can be an issue: one of the most common triggers for irritation and allergies.
- What to choose: if you are reactive, look for “fragrance-free”.
6) Triclosan
How to spot: Triclosan.
A strong antibacterial agent used in many products in the past.
- Why it can be an issue: can disrupt the skin microbiome; in some regions it’s restricted.
- Verdict: many users avoid it.
7) Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
How to spot: Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone.
A preservative known for a relatively high allergy rate.
- Why it can be an issue: can cause strong contact reactions.
- Rule of thumb: avoid in leave-on products if you are sensitive.
Can you memorize all of this? (Spoiler: no)
There are 30,000+ INCI ingredients and many synonyms for each. Standing in a store and googling every long word is slow and frustrating.
BeautyAI makes it simple:
- You take a photo of the label.
- The bot reads the INCI.
- You get a clear report with risks and “what to watch out for” — for your specific context.
Check your products now. Your favorite cream may be less “safe” than it looks.
Check your products
If the article sounds like your routine, you don't need to change everything at once. Start by checking the products you are most unsure about.
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