Product round-up

MI-Free Wet Wipes for Sensitive Skin and Babies

Wet wipes were at the centre of a preservative-allergy wave. Here's how to choose wipes free of methylisothiazolinone and fragrance.

Why wipes earned a bad reputation

Wet wipes were a major route by which the preservative methylisothiazolinone (MI) caused a wave of contact allergy, including in babies. Many brands have reformulated, but it pays to check.

What to look for

What to avoid

Wipes with MI, added fragrance, or “refreshing” botanical extracts.

Check it against your triggers

To check a product, a free analyser like Skincarisma lets you paste a product at your desk and see the ingredients you are avoiding flagged in the ingredient list. That tells you what is in a product, but it rates it on general criteria rather than against your own list.

Once you know what you are screening for, a personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save the ingredients you react to once and scan any product to flag only your triggers. It also keeps a Reaction Journal for flare-ups, a shared Care Circle so family or carers can scan for you, and a Trusted Products list for items you have cleared, and it is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

More product round-ups

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Eczema-Safe Baby Products: A Gentle Buyer's Guide for Parents

Choosing wash, cream and wipes for a baby with eczema. The criteria that matter, what to avoid, and how to check any product quickly.

Fragrance-Free Body Lotions for Dry, Sensitive Skin

Body lotion covers the most skin, so fragrance here matters. Here's how to choose a fragrance-free body moisturiser that actually soothes.

Fragrance-Free Deodorants for Sensitive Underarms

Underarm skin is thin and often irritated by fragrance and other additives. Here's how to choose a fragrance-free deodorant that works.

A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.