Check a product’s ingredients

Paste one ingredient list. Six lenses read it, one after another, and you leave with a one-page report.

  1. 1Label
  2. 2Lenses
  3. 3Report
Try:
What matters to you? Those lenses read first.

Runs in your browser: your list isn’t sent anywhere.

Six lenses, one label

Each lens reads the whole list against its own data

Actives

9 actives by their label names (e.g. sodium hyaluronate, ascorbyl glucoside), plus the strength if the label writes it

Usual strengths from FDA labels and monographs, DermNet and reviews
Pores

Each ingredient against 228 rabbit-ear lab grades (0–5); close but different ingredients get no grade

Fulton 1989 and 1984
Fragrance

“Fragrance”, “parfum” or “perfume”, and 65 named fragrance allergens (the 26 of the original EU list, and 39 of the ones its 2023 rule added)

FDA, EU Regulation 2023/1545, DermNet
Pregnancy

26 ingredients and medicines, each stamped avoid, ask your doctor first, or generally considered OK

AAD, ACOG, FDA labels, MotherToBaby
Rosacea

26 ingredients that often irritate rosacea, need care, or are rosacea-friendly

AAD, National Rosacea Society, Mayo Clinic, DermNet
Pairs

Any two of the 9 actives in the same list, against 36 checked pairs

FDA labels, the FDA acne monograph, AAD, studies

Nothing is graded by guesswork: an ingredient that isn’t in a list gets no flag from it, and the report says so.

Runs in your browser: your list isn’t sent anywhere.

Retinol night cream · 16 ingredientsSix lenses, one label

  1. ✓Label
  2. 2Lenses
  3. 3Report
Ingredients · Retinol night cream

Retinol night cream · 4 of 6 flaggedYour ingredient report

  1. ✓Label
  2. ✓Lenses
  3. 3Report
Sources, opened and read

    Skincare ingredient checker

    Paste one product’s ingredient list. Get one report, line by line: actives and their strength, pore-clogging lab grades, fragrance allergens, pregnancy and rosacea flags, clashes between actives. Every flag links to its source.

    • Actives
    • Pores
    • Fragrance
    • Pregnancy
    • Rosacea
    • Active pairs

    How the checks work

    Not only pores

    One list, six checks

    The comedogenic checker does one job: it grades each ingredient for pore clogging, with a skin close-up and the full table of 228 lab ratings. This checker reads the same pore grades, then adds five more checks on the same list: actives and their strength, fragrance allergens, pregnancy, rosacea and active pairs.

    Reading the label

    The order is the clue

    US cosmetic labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less, and color additives, may come in any order. Fragrance can be one word. A product that is also a drug, like an acne wash or a sunscreen, lists its active ingredients first, and the Drug Facts label states how much of each. That is where a strength like “Salicylic acid 2%” comes from.

    FDA: labeling guide · FDA: Drug Facts label

    Fragrance

    One word can hide many

    Under US rules, fragrance can be listed as the single word “fragrance”, and the FDA can’t require allergen labeling for cosmetics. The EU names fragrance allergens on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products, and added more of them in 2023, from menthol and camphor to lavender and citrus peel oils. DermNet says fragrance is second only to nickel as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis.

    FDA: fragrances · EU 2023/1545 · DermNet

    Pregnancy & rosacea

    The same stamps as our checkers

    The pregnancy flags come from our pregnancy-safe checker, built on AAD, ACOG, FDA label and MotherToBaby pages; the cautious stamp wins. The rosacea flags come from our rosacea checker: the AAD tells people with rosacea to avoid alcohol, camphor, fragrance, glycolic acid, lactic acid, menthol, sodium lauryl sulfate and urea.

    AAD: pregnancy skin care · AAD: rosacea skin care

    The limits

    A flag is not a verdict

    A lab grade or a stamp is about one ingredient, not the dose or the formula: one study found finished products with a “comedogenic” ingredient were not necessarily comedogenic. Before you add a new product, the AAD suggests testing it on the inside of your arm or the bend of your elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days, and stopping if you get redness, itching or swelling.

    Draelos & DiNardo 2006 · AAD: testing products

    What each check reads

    The data behind the six checks. Nothing is graded by guesswork: an ingredient that isn’t in a list gets no flag from it, and the report says so.

    What each of the six checks reads, and where the data comes from
    CheckWhat it looks forData from
    Actives9 actives by their label names (e.g. sodium hyaluronate, ascorbyl glucoside), plus the strength if the label writes itUsual strengths from FDA labels and monographs, DermNet and reviews
    PoresEach ingredient against 228 rabbit-ear lab grades (0–5); close but different ingredients get no gradeFulton 1989 and 1984
    Fragrance“Fragrance”, “parfum” or “perfume”, and 65 named fragrance allergens (the 26 of the original EU list, and 39 of the ones its 2023 rule added)FDA, EU Regulation 2023/1545, DermNet
    Pregnancy26 ingredients and medicines, each stamped avoid, ask your doctor first, or generally considered OKAAD, ACOG, FDA labels, MotherToBaby
    Rosacea26 ingredients that often irritate rosacea, need care, or are rosacea-friendlyAAD, National Rosacea Society, Mayo Clinic, DermNet
    Active pairsAny two of the 9 actives in the same list, against 36 checked pairsFDA labels, the FDA acne monograph, AAD, studies
    The 65 fragrance allergens we flag

    Original EU list (26)Alpha-Isomethyl IononeAmyl CinnamalAmylcinnamyl AlcoholAnise AlcoholBenzyl AlcoholBenzyl BenzoateBenzyl CinnamateBenzyl SalicylateCinnamalCinnamyl AlcoholCitralCitronellolCoumarinLimoneneEugenolFarnesolGeraniolHexyl CinnamalHydroxycitronellalHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene CarboxaldehydeIsoeugenolButylphenyl MethylpropionalLinaloolMethyl 2-OctynoateOakmoss (Evernia Prunastri)Treemoss (Evernia Furfuracea)

    Among those added by the 2023 rule (39)Acetyl CedreneAmyl SalicylateAnetholeBenzaldehydeCamphorBeta-CaryophylleneCarvoneLinalyl AcetateMentholSalicylaldehydeSantalolSclareolTerpineolVanillinMethyl SalicylateAlpha-TerpineneTerpinolenePineneEugenyl AcetateGeranyl AcetateIsoeugenyl AcetateYlang-ylang (Cananga Odorata)Cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum)Citrus flower or peel oilLemongrass oil (Cymbopogon)Eucalyptus Globulus OilClove oil (Eugenia Caryophyllus)Jasmine oil or extractBay leaf oil (Laurus Nobilis)Lavender oil or extract (Lavandula)Peppermint oil (Mentha Piperita)Spearmint oil (Mentha Viridis)Geranium oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)Patchouli oil (Pogostemon Cablin)Rose flower oil or extractSandalwood oil (Santalum Album)Cedarwood oil (Juniperus Virginiana)Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon Pereirae)Verbena absolute (Lippia Citriodora)

    Sources: EU list of fragrance allergens requiring labelling (EMA) and Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. Products that don’t list the 2023 additions may be placed on the EU market until July 31, 2026.

    Go deeper on one check

    Comedogenic checkerPores only, with the skin close-up and full tablePregnancy-safe checkTap your actives, see what to avoidRosacea checkerIrritants plus your own triggersIngredient mixerTwo actives from two productsRoutine orderWhat goes on firstRoutine checkerYour whole routine, morning and nightNon-comedogenic decoderWhat the label claim means
    MySkincare

    One face scan. Your whole routine, sorted.

    This page answered your question. MySkincare starts from your own skin, and the products you already use.

    1. 1
      Scan your face3 photos: front, left profile, right profile.
    2. 2
      See your skin scoreFree6 zones scored separately: forehead, eye area, T-zone, both cheeks, chin.
    3. 3
      Scan your productsIt reads each ingredient list and says: keep it, watch it or replace it.
    4. 4
      Follow your routineMorning and night, checked so your products work together. With reminders.
    Scan my face
    Free scan: your skin score. Zone by zone: with a plan.
    No account needed · Works in your browser · trymyskincare.app

    Questions people ask

    What does a skincare ingredient checker do?

    It reads the full ingredient list of a product and checks each line against data. This one runs six checks on one list: which actives it contains and at what strength if the label says, pore-clogging lab grades, fragrance and named fragrance allergens, pregnancy stamps, rosacea irritants, and whether two actives in it are a known clash. Each flag links to its source.

    Is this the same as the comedogenic checker?

    No. The comedogenic checker only answers “will it clog my pores?”, with the skin close-up and the full table of 228 lab grades. This page uses the same grades for its pore check and adds five more checks, so you can see everything about one product in one report.

    Why doesn’t my ingredient list show percentages?

    Cosmetic labels don’t have to give amounts. The FDA asks for ingredients in descending order of how much is in the product, and those at 1% or less may be listed in any order. Products that are also drugs, like acne washes and sunscreens, list their active ingredients first, and the Drug Facts label states how much of each. When a label writes a strength, the checker reads it.

    Does “unscented” mean no fragrance?

    Not always. The FDA says even some products labeled “unscented” may contain fragrance ingredients, and DermNet says they can include masking fragrances. The FDA suggests choosing fragrance-free products and checking the ingredient list; the AAD gives the same advice for rosacea.

    Why are linalool and limonene flagged?

    They are on the EU list of fragrance allergens that must be named on the label. DermNet says both oxidize in air into much stronger allergens, so an opened product that once felt fine can cause a reaction later. Being named doesn’t mean everyone reacts: DermNet puts fragrance allergy at about 1% of adults.

    Can I check if a product is safe during pregnancy?

    The pregnancy check flags ingredients the AAD, ACOG or an FDA label advise against or say to ask about, such as retinol, salicylic acid above 2% or hydroquinone. It’s not medical advice: most labels don’t give amounts, so show the list to your OB-GYN.

    What should I do before using a new product?

    The AAD suggests testing it first: put it on a quarter-sized spot on the inside of your arm or the bend of your elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days. If you get redness, itching or swelling, wash it off and don’t use it again. If you can’t tell which ingredient is the problem, a board-certified dermatologist can help.

    Is my ingredient list saved or sent anywhere?

    No. The check runs in your browser and the list never leaves your device.

    Sources

    19 sources · Last reviewed November 9, 2026

    • Educational content, not medical advice
    • Pregnancy, rosacea, pore and pair data shared with our other checkers
    How we check

    US Food and Drug Administrationfda.gov

    American Academy of Dermatologyaad.org

    • Acne tips for managing

      Look for “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.”

    • Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care (updated June 2025)

      Should not be used during pregnancy, because they can put your baby at risk of birth defects: retinoids (including OTC retinol and adapalene), hydroquinone, finasteride, spironolactone, tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, and 5-fluorouracil cream. Use sparingly: salicylic acid at high doses (greater than 2%), benzoyl peroxide, parabens, phthalates, phenol, triclosan, some essential oils. Mineral sunscreen, SPF 30+. Vitamin C in the morning, glycolic acid at night. No mention of niacinamide.

    • Is any acne treatment safe to use during pregnancy?

      Isotretinoin, tazarotene and spironolactone: never take during pregnancy; if you’re pregnant, stop them immediately. Doxycycline, minocycline or tetracycline: stop by your 15th week of pregnancy. Adapalene and tretinoin: most experts recommend stopping. Azelaic acid and clindamycin: thought to be safe. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid: safe in limited amounts or for a limited time, ask first.

    • 7 rosacea skin care tips (updated April 3, 2024)

      Avoid alcohol, camphor, fragrance, glycolic acid, lactic acid, menthol, sodium lauryl sulfate and urea; fragrance-free, not “unscented”; sensitive-skin, non-comedogenic; a cream rather than a lotion or gel; never an astringent or toner; stop exfoliating; medicine first, then moisturizer; SPF 30+, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or silicone; green-tinted concealer; water-based or powder makeup.

    • How to test skin care products (updated August 10, 2021)

      Test a new product on the inside of the arm or the bend of the elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days; wash it off if red, itchy or swollen; a dermatologist can help find the ingredient.

    DermNetdermnetnz.org

    • Fragrance allergy (2020)

      Second only to nickel as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis; believed to affect about 1% of adults; “unscented” products could still include masking fragrances; “botanical”, “herbal” or “natural” ingredients may hide fragrance; diagnosis is confirmed by patch testing, including the 26 fragrances that require labelling in the EU.

    • Contact allergy to limonene and linalool

      Limonene comes from citrus peel and linalool from herbs, flowers and woods; exposed to air, both oxidise into hydroperoxides that are much more potent sensitisers, so an opened product can cause a reaction later; 10% of people investigated for suspected contact dermatitis were allergic.

    American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologistsacog.org

    • Skin Conditions During Pregnancy, patient FAQ

      Over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, salicylic acid or glycolic acid can be used; use of topical retinoids is generally avoided, and some OTC products contain them; isotretinoin should not be used; melasma and daily sunscreen.

    Studies and other sources

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