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Allergens in Cosmetics

Cosmetic products (such as soaps, lotions, makeup, fragrances, etc.) can provoke allergic reactions  in some consumers. Anyone can develop allergies at any age. Allergic reactions are the human body’s immune system overreacting to substances (allergens) that may otherwise be harmless. An allergen can trigger the immune system to activate a defensive response that results in allergy symptoms. Many people are familiar with seasonal allergies brought on by pollen from blooming plants, or with food allergies. Allergic reactions to cosmetic products most often appear as itchy, red rashes on the skin , a condition known as allergic contact dermatitis.

This page provides information about:

Common Allergens Found in Cosmetic Products

The FDA has compiled a list of common allergens found in some cosmetic products. These are substances that cause most allergic reactions from the use of cosmetic products.

Common allergens fall into the five classes as detailed below:  natural rubber, fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and metals.

As noted below, these specific ingredients may not be identified on the cosmetic product label. In 2003 the European Commission, which conducted extensive research on fragrance allergens, listed the following 26 fragrance ingredients as allergens in Annex III of the European Union Cosmetics Directive 

  • Amyl cinnamal
  • Amylcinnamyl alcohol
  • Anisyl alcohol
  • Benzyl alcohol
  • Benzyl benzoate
  • Benzyl cinnamate
  • Benzyl salicylate
  • Cinnamyl alcohol
  • Cinnamaldehyde
  • Citral
  • Citronellol
  • Coumarin
  • Eugenol
  • Farnesol
  • Geraniol
  • Hexyl cinnamaladehyde
  • Hydroxycitronellal
  • Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC), (also known as Lyral)
  • Isoeugenol
  • Lilial
  • d-Limonene
  • Linalool
  • Methyl 2-octynoate
  • g-Methylionone
  • Oak moss extract
  • Tree moss extract

* HICC and Lilial are no longer present in Annex III because they are no longer permitted for use in cosmetic products in the EU

The 2023 amendment added more  substances, including the following:

  • Acetyl Cedrene
  • Alpha-Terpinene
  • Amyl Salicylate
  • Anethole
  • Benzaldehyde
  • Beta-Caryophyllene
  • Camphor
  • Carvone
  • Dimethyl Phenethyl Acetate
  • Eugenyl Acetate
  • Geranyl Acetate
  • Hexadecanolactone
  • Hexamethylindanopyran
  • Isoeugenyl Acetate
  • Linalyl Acetate
  • Menthol
  • Methyl Salicylate
  • Pinene
  • Rose Ketones (including Rose Ketone 4)
  • Salicylaldehyde
  • Santalol
  • Sclareol
  • Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
  • Terpineol
  • Terpinolene
  • Trimethylbenzenepropanol
  • Trimethylcyclopentenyl Methylisopentenol
  • Turpentine
  • Vanillin
  • 3-Propylidenephthalide
  • 6-Methyl Coumarin

Extracts/Essential Oils:

  • Cananga Odorata Oil/Extract (Ylang-ylang)
  • Cedrus Atlantica Oil/Extract (Cedarwood)
  • Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
  • Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil (Cinnamon bark)
  • Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil (Neroli)
  • Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil (Bergamot)
  • Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil (Bitter orange)
  • Citrus Limon Peel Oil (Lemon)
  • Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
  • Eugenia Caryophyllus Oil (Clove)
  • Jasmine Oil/Extract
  • Juniperus Virginiana Oil (Cedarwood Virginia)
  • Laurus Nobilis Leaf Oil (Bay laurel)
  • Lavandula Oil/Extract (Lavender / Lavandin)
  • Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon spp.)
  • Lippia citriodora absolute (Lemon verbena)
  • Mentha Piperita Oil (Peppermint)
  • Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil (Spearmint)
  • Myroxylon Pereirae Oil/Extract (Peru balsam)
  • Narcissus Extract
  • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil (Geranium)
  • Pinus Mugo (Dwarf mountain pine)
  • Pinus Pumila (Siberian dwarf pine)
  • Pogostemon Cablin Oil (Patchouli)
  • Rose Flower Oil/Extract
  • Santalum Album Oil (Sandalwood)

  • Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT)
  • Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing ingredients:
    • Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
    • 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
    • Diazolidinyl urea
    • DMDM hydantoin (1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin)
    • Imidazolidinyl urea
    • Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
    • Quaternium-15 (Dowicil 200; N-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride)

Dyes, or chemicals in dyes and color additives such as those used in hair dyes and black henna tattoos:

  • p-phenylenediamine (PPD)
  • Coal-tar

  • Nickel
  • Gold

What Consumers Can Do

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction from a cosmetic product is to know what you are sensitive to and to know how to avoid it. One way to accomplish this is by carefully reading the product ingredient panel and avoiding ingredients you know or think you are allergic to. It isn’t enough to check for terms like “hypoallergenic”, “fragrance-free” or “for sensitive skin,” as there is no federal standard or definition that governs the use of these terms in the U.S. However, under the authority of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires an ingredient declaration on cosmetic products sold at the retail level to consumers. However, certain ingredients may be listed generally as “fragrance,” or “perfume,” without identifying the specific ingredients.

If you have reviewed the product ingredient panel and still have questions regarding the substances in the product, you may contact the manufacturer listed on the product label. In addition, consumers should always check product labels and follow the manufacturer instructions before applying as directed. Reading the label on products is especially important as some products contain ingredients that may cause irritation, regardless of whether you have allergies or not. For example, manufacturers of certain hair dyes instruct users to test a small amount of product first – to see if they have a sensitivity to the ingredients in the product before applying it more broadly.

Symptoms of Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions can range in severity, but may include hives, itchy skin, a rash, flaking or peeling skin, facial swelling, irritation of the eyes, nose and mouth, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. Although anaphylaxis is rare in the context of cosmetic product usage, it is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include a loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, lightheadedness, chest pain, a rapid, weak pulse, nausea, and vomiting. If anaphylaxis symptoms occur, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.

In addition to allergic contact dermatitis, fragrance ingredients may also affect the respiratory system due to inhalation. This is especially true in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and viral respiratory infections. For people with sensitivities to certain fragrances, inhaling them may result in shortness of breath, the sensation of being suffocated, coughing, phlegm, a runny or stuffy nose, headache, chest tightness, and wheezing.

If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction, consult your healthcare professional, as sensitivity to allergens can become more severe over time. Be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider what cosmetic product or particular substance you think might be triggering the allergic reaction. They may recommend different types of tests to better understand what you are allergic to.

If you believe you have experienced an adverse event (allergic reaction or illness) after using a cosmetic product, you can also submit a report to the FDA. We encourage consumers with questions about cosmetic products to submit inquiries to the FDA.

Testing for Allergens

There is some good news. You don’t have to wait until you have an allergic reaction to try and figure out what you are allergic to. You can get tested. Knowing precisely what allergen has caused a reaction will help you to avoid further exposure to the substance. Your healthcare provider may recommend you undergo patch testing or some other, less frequently used tests.

  • Patch Test
    This test is often used to diagnose dermatitis, or irritation and swelling of the skin. This test involves placing a small amount of allergen on the skin and covering it for 48 hours. A physician will inspect the skin after 72 to 96 hours and check for signs of an allergic reaction, including redness, a rash, or small raised bumps. Based on the symptoms present, the physician can determine whether the patient has had an allergic reaction. Patch testing requires two to three office visits.

    If a patient has very sensitive skin, such as with active eczema or dermatitis at the test site, this type of testing may not be specific enough to help identify allergens and other methods may be used.

  • Prick Test
    This type of testing involves placing an allergen on the patient’s skin and pricking the skin in that same spot with a needle. The areas that were pricked (usually on the forearms) are then monitored. Redness, itching, or swelling may develop if the person is allergic to the substance.
  • Intradermal Test
    This test is like the prick test; however, for this test, allergens are injected into the top layer of skin and monitored for any signs of allergic reaction; redness, swelling, itching, etc.
  • Allergy Blood Test
    This test involves taking a blood sample from a patient and adding an allergen to it to see if the blood contains antibodies that react to the specific allergen. If antibodies are produced in response to the allergen, then the patient is likely allergic to that substance.

FDA Activities on Allergens in Cosmetics 

To better understand allergens in cosmetics, the FDA focuses its efforts around three main areas:

  • Monitoring of adverse event reporting;
  • Conducting scientific research on the mechanisms of allergic reactions and how allergens interact with the body’s immune system; and
  • Conducting research on consumer practices, the frequency of adverse reactions, and consumer awareness of allergens in cosmetics. 

Monitoring Adverse Event Reporting

Adverse event reports contain critical medical information and descriptions that help the FDA identify signals of potential safety issues with cosmetic products and ingredients. The FDA receives adverse event reports from healthcare professionals and consumers via MedWatch.  The FDA reviews all adverse event reports and when necessary, takes action to address safety issues associated with cosmetic products and ingredients.

More information on adverse event reporting can be found at the How to Report a Cosmetic Related Complaint page.

Additional Reading:

Reporting Cosmetic Adverse Events to the US Food and Drug Administration. Katz, L. M., Valenzuela, C. & Sadrieh, N. K. 2016. Dermatitis, 27(4), 236–237. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000195.



The FDA is also engaged in research specific to fragrance ingredients. The study’s purpose is to identify the likelihood of an adverse reaction from the use of products containing fragrance ingredients. This project will help establish acceptable levels for multiple fragrance ingredients used in a variety of rinse-off and leave-on cosmetic products. The methodology established in this project may be used in future studies to perform similar assessments for additional cosmetics ingredients.

Additional Information

Enhancing our scientific understanding of allergens however, is only one area of interest for the agency. The FDA is also taking steps to learn more about consumer practices and use of cosmetics. We are conducting consumer surveys and focus groups to collect the following information:

  • How consumers use cosmetics;
  • How often consumers experience an adverse reaction from the use of cosmetics with potential allergens;
  • How aware are consumers of the presence of allergens in cosmetics; and
  • What actions (if any) do consumers take to avoid allergens in cosmetics.

In addition, the FDA intends to conduct interviews with the cosmetics industry to understand how manufacturing, marketing, and sale of cosmetic products is impacted by information on allergic reactions to cosmetic products. Furthermore, from interviews with state and local regulatory authorities, the FDA hopes to learn about their awareness of safety issues associated with cosmetic ingredients, including potential allergens, and how they monitor and address these issues.

More information on these efforts can be found at: 

Additional Information:

International Resources:

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