For the sake of consumer protection it is a legal requirement that the ingredients in cosmetic products be shown on the packaging by means of the INCI Declaration. However few consumers are aware of what lies behind the Latin or English terms. Therefore we have put together a selection of commonly used chemical preservatives, perfumes and petroleum products/mineral oils/paraffins. This way you can recognise all of the ingredients which you do not want in your products.

Perfumes and chemical preservatives have been identified in scientific studies to be the main allergy triggers in cosmetic products. This is also shown in all well-known dermatological textbooks.

Perfumes: perfume, fragrance

Chemical preservatives: Benzoic Acid, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Triclosan, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Chlorhexidin, Methylisothiazolinon, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Dibromodicyanobutan, Sorbic Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlormethylisothiazolinon, Bronopol, Quarternium 115, Iodpropinylbutylcarbamat.

Please note: “nature-related” preservatives are chemical preservatives.

Mineral oils: The drawback of inexpensive mineral oils is that in high concentrations they can form an impenetrable film on the skin (occlusive effect). Research by the Dermatological Clinic at the University of Copenhagen has shown that high concentrations of mineral oils can damage the skin’s lipid barrier which can lead to moisture loss in the skin, which in turn is responsible for the dry, cracked and flaky skin which results.

Petroleum-based products/Mineral oils: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum (Vaseline), Paraffinum-Liquidum, Paraffinum-Subliquidum, Cera Microcristallina, Microcrystalline Wax, Ozokerit, Ceresin.

We guarantee that Dr. Baumann SkinIdent products contain no chemical preservatives, no perfume and no mineral oils or paraffins from petroleum.

You may use the reference book “The evaluation of cosmetic ingredients on the basis of the INCI Declaration” to inform yourself about the most common allergenic ingredients used in cosmetics.