| Rating | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| Poor |
Acacia farnesiana extractA fragrant extract from a type of acacia tree. There is no research showing it to have any benefit... |
| Poor |
bitter orange flower |
| Poor |
bois de rose oil |
| Poor |
bois oilFragrant oil that has no research showing it has benefit for skin (Source: www.naturaldatabase.com). |
| Poor |
Boswellia carterii |
| Average |
Boswellia serrata extractAn extract from the gum resin of a tree and also a source of Indian frankincense, this plant extract has both positive and negative qualities for skin. |
| Poor |
butylphenyl methylpropionalSynthetic fragrance ingredient with a strong floral scent.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
Aerocarpus santalinus |
| Poor |
alpha isomethyl iononeAlpha isomethyl ionone is a fragrance ingredient that must be listed on products that contain it due to its risk of causing a sensitized reaction.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
amyl cinnamateFragrant component.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
amyl salicylateFragrant component.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
amyris oilFragrant oil. It has no other known benefit for skin. |
| Average |
Anethum graveolens |
| Poor |
Angelica archangelica root oilVolatile oil obtained from the angelica plant. The oil contains chemical constituents that can be... |
| Poor |
anisaldehydeSynthetic fragrance used in cosmetics.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
aniseAlso known as aniseed, it can have antioxidant properties... |
| Average |
aroma/flavorSeeing "aroma/flavor" on an ingredient list can be either good or bad. For example, if the aroma or flavor comes from mint....
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
balm mint extractExtract derived from a fragrant plant; it poses some risk of causing skin sensitivity… |
| Poor |
balsam peruFatty resin that when applied topically can cause skin sensitivity… |
| Poor |
bay leaf oilHas the potential to provide antioxidant benefits for skin… |
| Poor |
benzoin extractBalsam resin that has some fragrant properties; it may also be sensitizing to skin…
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
benzyl salicylateA volatile fragrance chemical with a sweet, floral odor used to impart scent to cosmetic products and perfumes.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
bergamot oilA volatile citrus oil that, when used topically, is a photosensitizer... |
| Poor |
cananga extractFragrance used in cosmetics; it can be sensitizing to skin, much like ylang ylang. |
| Poor |
Cananga odorata |
| Poor |
cardamomPlant of the ginger family, used as fragrance in cosmetics. Terpene, one of its major constituents,... |
| Poor |
carvoneEssential oil used as a flavoring agent and fragrance component in cosmetics. It can be a...
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
cedarwoodFragrant plant extract. There is evidence that cedarwood oil is sensitizing... |
| Poor |
Cedrus atlantica bark extractFragrant oil that can aggravate skin...
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
essential oil |
| Poor |
eucalyptus extractExtract that may have beneficial properties on the skin... |
| Poor |
eucalyptus oilFragrant plant oil whose active constituents are found in the leaves and the oil obtained from... |
| Poor |
eugenolFragrance chemical that occurs naturally in some plant ingredients... |
| Average |
farnesolExtract of plants that is used in cosmetics primarily for fragrance. A few animal studies and some... |
| Average |
farnesyl acetate |
| Poor |
Cinnamomum |
| Poor |
cinnamonCan have antioxidant properties when applied to skin... |
| Poor |
cinnamyl alcoholA volatile fragrance ingredient that contains extracts from cinnamon and balsam of Peru...
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
citronellolA volatile fragrance chemical extracted from geranium, rose, and other plants, citronellol has a characteristic grassy, citrus-like scent.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
Citrus amara |
| Poor |
Citrus aurantifolia |
| Poor |
Citrus aurantium |
| Poor |
Citrus aurantium extractBitter orange extract. It can have antioxidant properties when eaten (Source: Journal of... |
| Poor |
Citrus medica limonium |
| Poor |
clary oilUsed as fragrance; can be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
Commiphora myrrha extract |
| Good |
corianderHerb and spice plant, the source of a fragrant component; it can be a potential skin sensitizer… |
| Best |
Cucurbitea peponis |
| Poor |
cyclamen aldehydeSynthetic fragrant component in products; it can aggravate skin.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
Ferula galbaniflua |
| Poor |
fir needle oilVolatile, fragrant oil that can cause skin sensitivity. |
| Poor |
floralozoneOne of a number of synthetic fragrant components.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
Foeniculum vulgare extract |
| Poor |
fragranceOne or a blend of volatile and/or fragrant plant oils (or synthetically derived oils) that impart... |
| Poor |
frankincense extractFragrant component used in skincare products; it can be a skin sensitizer... |
| Poor |
galbanumFragrant substance that, because of its resin and volatile oil content, can be extremely sensitizing… |
| Poor |
Gardenia florida extractFlower extract used in cosmetics to impart fragrance; also functions as an antioxidant (Source:... |
| Average |
geraniolA volatile fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium, geraniol is capable of causing sensitivity when applied to skin. |
| Poor |
geranium oilFragrant oil that can have beneficial properties but also can be a skin sensitizer... |
| Poor |
jasmine oilFragrant oil, often used as a source of perfume, that can be a skin sensitizer... |
| Poor |
Jasminium grandiflorum |
| Poor |
jonquil extractFragrant plant extract that poses a strong risk of skin sensitization. |
| Poor |
Laurus nobilis |
| Good |
lauryl lactateMixture of lauryl alcohol and lactic acid that functions as a skin-conditioning agent and... |
| Poor |
lavandin oilEssential oil of the hybrid lavender plant Lavandula hybrida and used in cosmetics as a fragrance... |
| Poor |
Lavandula angustifolia |
| Poor |
Lavandula officinalis |
| Poor |
lavender extract and oilIn-vitro research indicates that components of lavender oil, specifically linalool and linalyl acetate, can have... |
| Poor |
lemonPotent skin sensitizer. Though it can have beneficial properties... |
| Poor |
lemon balm |
| Poor |
lemon oilCommonly used citrus oil that can be a skin sensitizer, especially on abraded skin. |
| Poor |
lemongrass extractExtract that can have beneficial properties... |
| Poor |
lemongrass oilAlso known as Oil of Verbena; can be effective as a mosquito repellent... |
| Poor |
grapefruit oilCitrus oil whose volatile components (chiefly substances known as furocoumarins) are sensitizing... |
| Poor |
hedioneSynthetic fragrant component in products, which also can be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
hexyl cinnamalA fragrance ingredient used in many perfumes and often seen in fragranced skincare products... |
| Poor |
Illicium vernum |
| Poor |
Iris florentina extract |
| Poor |
Levisticum officinale root extract |
| Poor |
lime oil and extractCitrus fruit whose volatile compounds are sensitizing... |
| Poor |
limoneneChemical constituent of many natural fragrant ingredients, notably citrus oils such as lemon (d-limonene) and... |
| Poor |
linaloolFragrant component of lavender and coriander that can be a skin sensitizer, or... |
| Poor |
Litsea cubeba |
| Poor |
pentadecalactoneSynthetic fragrance used in cosmetics.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
peppermintBoth the oil and the extract can have disinfectant properties... |
| Poor |
petitgrain mandarin |
| Poor |
pine oilIt can aggravate skin and should never be used on abraded or chafed skin… |
| Poor |
Pogostemon cablin |
| Poor |
mandarin orange oil or extractPrimarily used as a fragrance; it can be a skin sensitizer. There is no research showing it has any... |
| Poor |
marjoramHerb with a fragrant component used in cosmetics; can be a skin sensitizer… |
| Poor |
Melissa officinalis |
| Poor |
Mentha piperita |
| Poor |
Mentha spicata |
| Poor |
Mentha viridis |
| Poor |
mentholDerived from peppermint; menthol can have the same sensitizing effect as peppermint on skin… |
| Poor |
menthoneMajor constituent of peppermint. |
| Poor |
menthoxypropanediolSynthetic derivative of menthol. It is known to produce effects that are twice as strong as... |
| Poor |
menthyl lactateUsed as a cooling agent and fragrance in cosmetics. It is a derivative of menthol and is supposed... |
| Poor |
methyldihydrojasmonateSynthetic fragrant component.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
mimosa oil or extractExtract used as a fragrance in cosmetics. |
| Poor |
mintCan be a skin sensitizer… |
| Poor |
myrrhFragrant gum resin that can be a skin sensitizer. There is little research showing it has any benefit... |
| Poor |
myrtle extractContains volatile oil and tannins... |
| Poor |
Myrtus communis extract |
| Poor |
Narcissus poeticus waxFragrant flower extract that can cause sensitizing reactions… |
| Poor |
neroli |
| Poor |
neroli oilFragrant plant oil that can be a skin sensitizer... |
| Poor |
olibanum extract |
| Poor |
orange blossomFragrant extract that can also be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
orchidFragrant flower that can be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
oreganoHas beneficial properties, but can also be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
Origanum majorana |
| Poor |
orris rootUsed primarily as a fragrant component due to its violet-like scent (Source:... |
| Poor |
patchouliFragrant oil derived from mint. It contains eugenol and can aggravate skin. |
| Poor |
spearmint oilFragrant, volatile oil that can cause skin sensitivity. |
| Poor |
star anise |
| Poor |
Rosa damascena oilOil of a very fragrant pink rose used as fragrance in cosmetics. |
| Poor |
Rosa gallica flower extractFragrant extract. |
| Poor |
rose flowerHighly fragrant substance that can be a skin sensitizer. |
| Poor |
rose flower oilFragrant, volatile oil that can aggravate skin. There is no research showing... |
| Poor |
rose oilFragrant, volatile oil that can aggravate skin. |
| Good |
rosemary extractExtract that can have antioxidant benefit for skin (Source: Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry,... |
| Poor |
rosemary oilFragrant plant oil derived from rosemary, Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis. This ingredient is primarily used as a fragrance in cosmetics... |
| Poor |
rosewood oilFragrant plant oil with a spicy-sweet scent, also known as bois de rose. It is extracted from wood... |
| Good |
Rosmarinus officinalis extract |
| Poor |
sandalwood oilFragrant oil that can cause skin-sensitizing reactions... |
| Average |
Santalum album seed extractLatin name for sandalwood extract, which is used in cosmetics as a fragrance. It can have... |
| Poor |
sausurrea oilAlso called costus oil. Volatile oil and fragrant component used in cosmetics; it can be a skin... |
| Poor |
sclareolideFermented from clary sage and used as a fragrant component in cosmetics. |
| Poor |
tangerine oilFragrant, volatile citrus oil that can be a skin sensitizer… |
| Poor |
Thymus vulgaris oilThymus vulgaris oil is more commonly known as thyme oil. |
| Good |
Vanilla planifolia fruit extractExtract used primarily as a fragrance and flavoring agent. The vanilla plant is a source of... |
| Poor |
verbena extractFragrant extract that can be a skin sensitizer... |
| Poor |
vetiver oil or extractFragrant component in skincare products that also has some beneficial properties... |
| Poor |
volatile oilGroup of volatile fluids derived primarily from plants and used in cosmetics primarily as fragrant... |
| Poor |
ylang ylangFragrant, volatile oil that can also be a skin sensitizer… |
About the Experts
Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:
The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!