Skin Safety

Ingredient Insight You Can Trust

Sensitive skin? Eczema? Allergies? Concerned about what’s in the products you and your family use every day?

Find unbiased, science-backed ingredient information—based on decades of clinical dermatology research—that takes the guesswork out of finding safer products.

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Use AskCR to explore ratings, allergen markers, and ingredient data. Tap any category, then select or type your question below:

Anti-Aging Products

Lip Care

Best Anti-aging skin products for sensitive skin? Anti-aging serums for very sensitive skin? Anti-aging treatments that won't bother my skin? Allergen-free anti-wrinkle products?

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About the Data

A Trusted Resource

CR has partnered with SkinSafe to bring ingredient insights and skin safety information for a range of personal care and household products. Developed with Mayo Clinic, SkinSafe draws on decades of clinical research to help consumers find products that are safer for their skin, whether they’re managing a diagnosed condition or simply seeking greater transparency in the products they use every day

Learn more about SkinSAFE

SkinSAFE is a Mayo Clinic-backed platform that rates personal care products by ingredient safety.

Glossary of Skin Safety Terms

Skin Sensitivity Markers

Good for Very Sensitive Skin

Products marked Good for Very Sensitive Skin are rated SkinSAFE 100 and are free of the top 11 most common allergens, as determined by Mayo Clinic research. Only around 18% of products receive a SkinSAFE 100 rating.

Good for Sensitive Skin

Products marked Good for Sensitive Skin are rated SkinSAFE 91, meaning the product contains one of the top 11 most common allergens, as determined by Mayo Clinic research.

Good for Mildly Sensitive Skin

Products marked Good for Mildly Sensitive Skin are rated SkinSAFE 82, meaning the product contains two of the top 11 most common allergens, as determined by Mayo Clinic research.

Allergen Markers

Bacitracin Free

Does not contain topical antibiotics such as bacitracin.

Benzalkonium Chloride Free

Does not contain benzalkonium chloride or related quaternary ammonium preservatives.

Benzophenone-4 Free

Does not contain chemical sunscreens or ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers such as benzophenone-4 or benzophenone-3.

Cobalt Chloride Free

Does not contain added cobalt.

Formaldehyde Free

Does not contain formaldehyde or the most common allergy-causing formaldehyde-related preservatives.

Fragrance Free

Does not contain fragrances or the most common allergy-causing botanicals such as balsam of Peru, cinnamic aldehyde, or propolis (bee glue).

MCI/MI Free

Does not contain methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, or related kathon-like ingredients.

Methyldibromoglutaronitrile Free

Does not contain methyldibromoglutaronitrile or related preservatives.

Neomycin Free

Does not contain topical antibiotics such as neomycin.

Nickel Free

Does not contain added nickel.

Potassium Dichromate Free

Does not contain potassium dichromate, chromates, or related heavy metals.

Other Ingredient Markers

Balsam of Peru Free

Does not contain Balsam of Peru (myroxylon pereirae), fragrance, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, cinnamates, or octocrylene.

Coconut Free

Does not contain coconut or related allergy-causing coconut derivatives. However, may contain highly processed ingredients derived from coconut (e.g., glycerin or tocopherol).

Common Preservative Free

Does not contain formaldehyde or the most common allergy-causing preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, formaldehyde, benzophenone, methyldibromo glutaronitrile, methylisothiazolinone, or methylchloroisothiazolinone.

Gluten Free

Does not contain added gluten or other wheat-related ingredients, including barley, rye or oat, as listed on the product label. However, may contain highly processed ingredients derived from wheat, barley, rye, and oat (e.g., glycerin or tocopherol).

Irritant Free

Does not contain ingredients like retinol/retinal, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide or peeling or resurfacing agents that can cause skin irritation.

Lanolin Free

Does not contain allergy-causing lanolins, esters, waxes or other wool-related ingredients.

Oil Free

Does not contain oils or related ingredients.

Paraben Free

Does not contain allergy-causing parabens or related esters such as benzocaine or PPD.

Propylene Glycol Free

Does not contain propylene glycol or related ingredients.

Soy Free

Does not contain soy ingredients (e.g., soybean oil). However, may contain highly processed ingredients derived from soy (e.g., glycerin or tocopherol).

SLS Free

Does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Talc Free

Does not contain talc or related ingredients.

Topical Antibiotic Free

Does not contain topical antibiotics such as neomycin or bacitracin, as listed on the product label.