Safety Guide
💧Ingredients to Avoid for Sensitive Skin
If your skin reacts easily, these ingredients are most likely to cause irritation, stinging, or redness. Check our ingredient library for gentler alternatives.
30 Ingredients to Avoid
Activated Charcoal
Avoidactive
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Adapalene
Avoidretinoid
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Benzoyl Peroxide
Avoidantimicrobial
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.)
Avoidsolvent
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Eucalyptus
Avoidsoothing
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Glycolic Acid
Avoidexfoliant aha
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Homosalate
Avoiduv filter
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Hydroquinone
Avoidbrightener
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR)
Avoidretinoid
Retinoids commonly cause irritation in sensitive skin — buffer with moisturizer or use low-strength alternatives like bakuchiol.
Full ingredient guide →
Idebenone
Avoidantioxidant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Immortelle (Helichrysum)
Avoidantioxidant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Kojic Acid
Avoidbrightener
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Methylisothiazolinone
Avoidpreservative
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Neem
Avoidbotanical
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Octinoxate
Avoiduv filter
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Octocrylene
Avoiduv filter
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Retinaldehyde
Avoidretinoid
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Retinol
Avoidretinoid
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Retinyl Palmitate
Avoidretinoid
Retinoids commonly cause irritation in sensitive skin — buffer with moisturizer or use low-strength alternatives like bakuchiol.
Full ingredient guide →
Royal Jelly
Avoidbotanical
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Avoidantioxidant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Salicylic Acid
Avoidexfoliant bha
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Avoidsurfactant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Spicule (Hydra Needle)
Avoidexfoliant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Sulfur
Avoidantimicrobial
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Tea Tree Oil
Avoidbotanical
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Tretinoin
Avoidretinoid
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Vitamin C
Avoidantioxidant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Witch Hazel
Avoidastringent
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Yuzu
Avoidantioxidant
Specifically flagged as not ideal for sensitive skin.
Full ingredient guide →
Safer Alternatives
Gentler ingredients that work well for sensitive skin.
Adenosine
soothing
Adenosine is one of the most quietly effective anti-aging ingredients in K-beauty. Approved by Korean regulators as a functional anti-wrinkle ingredient, it's found in an enormous number of products but rarely featured on the front label. It smooths fine lines, promotes wound healing, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Allantoin
soothing
The quiet healer — hiding in pimple patches, aftersun balms, and nearly every "barrier repair" cream you've ever met.
Aloe Vera
soothing
The world's most overclaimed soothing ingredient — genuinely helpful for sunburn, mostly filler for everything else.
Andiroba Oil
oil
Bitter Amazonian oil Brazilian grandmothers reached for before dermatologists existed — pressed from the seed of a rainforest giant.
Arnica Montana
soothing
The Alpine meadow flower every German grandmother has on the bedside table — and the first ingredient sports physios reach for.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
antioxidant
The well-mannered vitamin C — stable, gentle, converts to ascorbic acid in skin but slower than L-AA.
Also check
Flip side
Wondering if a specific ingredient is safe? Check its individual safety profile:
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients should I avoid if I have sensitive skin?
Activated Charcoal, Adapalene, Benzoyl Peroxide, Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), Eucalyptus are the main ingredients flagged in our database. See the full list below for reasoning.
What are safer alternatives?
Consider gentler options like Adenosine, Allantoin, Aloe Vera, Andiroba Oil — all well-tolerated and commonly found in K-beauty formulations.
Is this list exhaustive?
No. This list reflects the ingredients we currently track in our Supabase database. Consult your dermatologist or healthcare provider for personalized advice, especially for medical conditions.