Tool · Ingredient checker
Paste any label. See every flag, explained.
Paste any ingredient list and the checker flags 12 ingredient families at once, from fragrance and essential oils to sulfates, silicones and MI, then explains each ingredient in plain English. It runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
What the checker looks for
- 01
Fragrance
Added scent, listed as Parfum, Fragrance or Aroma. Fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy. Sensitive, eczema-prone and rosacea-prone skin usually does better without it.
- 02
Essential oils
Scented plant oils such as lavender, citrus peel, peppermint or tea tree. Essential oils carry the same fragrance allergens as perfume. "Fragrance-free" labels can still contain them.
- 03
Labelled fragrance allergens
The 26 scent chemicals the EU makes brands name on the label, such as linalool and limonene. If you know you react to one of them, this is the line to check. They also show up in products scented only with essential oils.
- 04
Drying alcohol
Alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol are different and fine. High on a list, simple alcohols can dry and sting dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
- 05
Sulfates
Strong foaming cleansers such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Sulfates clean hard. Dry, curly, color-treated hair and sensitive skin often feel better with gentler cleansers.
- 06
Silicones
Smoothing film-formers ending in -cone or -siloxane, such as dimethicone. Silicones are safe and give slip and shine. Some people avoid them for curly-hair routines or to cut build-up.
- 07
Parabens
Preservatives ending in -paraben, such as methylparaben. Parabens are well-studied and allowed at set limits. Many shoppers still prefer paraben-free, and a small number of people are allergic.
- 08
MI / MCI
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, isothiazolinone preservatives. MI is a leading cause of preservative contact allergy, and the EU has banned it in leave-on products. Anyone with a known MI allergy needs to avoid it.
- 09
Formaldehyde releasers
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde, such as DMDM hydantoin and quaternium-15. People with a formaldehyde allergy are told to avoid these preservatives too.
- 10
Mineral oil & petrolatum
Paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum and other refined petroleum emollients. They are excellent at sealing in moisture. Some people avoid them by preference, especially on acne-prone skin.
- 11
Lanolin
A wax from sheep's wool and its derivatives. Lanolin is a rich emollient but a known allergen for a small group, and it is not vegan.
- 12
Chemical UV filters
Organic sunscreen filters such as avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate. Very sensitive skin, and people who want a mineral-only sunscreen, check for these.
Want products that already pass? Use the free-from finder or browse products by need.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a product is fragrance-free?
Paste its full ingredient list into the checker. If parfum, fragrance or aroma appears, it is not fragrance-free. Also check the essential oils and labelled-allergens results: they carry scent too, even on packs that say fragrance-free.
Where do I find a product's ingredient list?
On the back of the pack or box, after the word Ingredients (or Ingrédients, Inhaltsstoffe). Brands also publish it on their own product pages. Copy the whole list, commas included.
Does the order of ingredients matter?
Yes. Ingredients are listed from the highest amount to the lowest, down to about 1%; below that the order is free. A flagged ingredient near the top matters more than one at the end.
Are flagged ingredients bad?
Not for everyone. A flag tells you an ingredient is in a family that some people avoid, and the explainer says who and why. Silicones and parabens, for example, are safe at permitted levels; fragrance and MI matter most for allergy-prone skin.