Common Skincare Ingredients That Trigger Facial Allergic Reactions

Skin Care Ingredients That Cause Allergic Reactions on the Face

There are many skin care ingredients that cause allergic reactions on the face. The only way to prevent this from happening again is to figure out which ingredients caused the rash. Then, you can read product labels to avoid that ingredient.

If you have had a face allergy to a skin cream or new skincare product, you know how uncomfortable the skin inflammation from a skin allergy can be. Whether you have tiny bumps on the face, redness, swelling, hives or itching, the treatment is the same. You need to soothe and calm the skin and avoid the allergenic ingredient.

You can treat the face allergy with anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredients.

However, you must figure out what skin care ingredients in your skin care products that caused the skin allergy.

Cosmetic Ingredients That Cause Allergies

If you have an allergic reaction on your face, chances are it is one of these 6 types of ingredients that are causing it. A rash on the eyelids is almost always due to nail polish, while a rash on the hands is usually hand soap. An allergic reaction on the face can be caused by many ingredients, but fragrances and preservatives are the most common.

The 6 most common ingredients in skin care products that cause allergic reactions on the face are:

Fragrances

Essential Oils

Preservatives

Plant derived ingredients

Chemical sunscreens

Parabens

How To Figure Out What Skin Care Ingredients I Am Allergic To?

If you suffer from a skin allergy from a skin care product you have three choices:

Figure out what you are allergic to by keeping a diary

See a dermatologist and get patch testing

Find a skincare brand that is hypoallergenic

If you get an allergic reaction, start a diary and write down every ingredient on the ingredient list in any skin care products that you used over the last 48 hours. Then match the list to these common allergen lists. Below you can find lists of the most common allergens in skin care products.

Circle the items in your diary that are on the allergenic ingredient list.

With time you will notice a pattern and will see that it is always the same ingredient that is giving you a rash.

You can also find a dermatologist at aad.org and get a patch test (Not all dermatologists do patch testing so ask before you schedule an appointment).

Hypoallergenic Skin Care Brands

Our favorite hypoallergenic skincare brands are:

VMV Hypoallergenics- was developed by a dermatologist and does not have the 100 most common allergens in it.

Vanicream

La Roche Posay Toleriane products

niacinamide chemical structure

Allergy to Niacinamide

Niacinamide can cause a skin allergy. We have see happen with EltaMD UV Clear SPF and other niacinamide containing products.

Rag Weed Allergy

If you have a ragweed allergy, certain skincare ingredients may cause cross-reactions due to their botanical relations or similarity in allergenic components. It’s essential to be cautious and potentially avoid ingredients that are in the same family as rag weed.

Skin care ingredients to avoid if you have a ragweed allergy:

Chamomile – This popular soothing ingredient is related to ragweed.

Echinacea – Often used for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Marigold (Calendula) – Used for its soothing and healing properties.

Sunflower oil – Sometimes found in moisturizers and other skincare products.

Helenium – Used in some herbal skincare products.

Dandelion extract – Occasionally used in natural or botanical products.

Tansy oil – Found in some herbal formulas.

Yarrow – Used for its astringent properties.

Artemisia – Another name for this is wormwood or sagebrush, and it’s sometimes used in skincare.

Bisabolol, a compound found in many plants

Allergy to Preservatives

If you have a preservative allergy, certain preservatives in skincare and cosmetic products can cause allergic reactions.

Skin care ingredients to avoid if you have a preservative allergy:

Parabens (e.g., methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben)

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives:

Quaternium-15

DMDM hydantoin

Imidazolidinyl urea

Diazolidinyl urea

Polyoxymethylene urea

Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT)

Benzyl alcohol

Phenoxyethanol

Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)

Isothiazolinones

Thimerosal

Triclosan and Triclocarban

Propylene glycol and butylene glycol (though these are more commonly classified as irritants, they can sometimes cause allergic reactions)

Methyldibromo glutaronitrile/phenoxyethanol (Euxyl K 400)

Benzyl alcohol

Fragrance Allergy

If you have a fragrance allergy, you should be aware that fragrances are among the top five allergens in cosmetics and other products. People sensitive to fragrances should look out for a wide array of ingredients, as the term “fragrance” or “parfum” in an ingredient list can actually be a blend of many components.

What skin care ingredients to avoid if you have a fragrance allergy:

Fragrance or Parfum: A catch-all term that can refer to a blend of multiple fragrance ingredients.

Linalool

Limonene

Eugenol

Cinnamal (Cinnamaldehyde)

Geraniol

Isoeugenol

Coumarin

Citral

Benzyl Alcohol (not always used as a fragrance but can be present in some fragrant blends)

Benzyl Salicylate

Benzyl Benzoate

Farnesol

Citronellol

Hexyl Cinnamal

Amyl Cinnamal

Cinnamyl Alcohol

Oakmoss and Treemoss Extracts (Evernia prunastri and Evernia furfuracea)

Balsam of Peru (or Myroxylon pereirae) – it’s both a fragrance and flavoring agent, and can be found in many products.

Essential oils – even though they’re natural, they can still cause reactions in sensitive individuals. Lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and ylang-ylang are common essential oils in skincare products.

Additionally, “unscented” products might still contain fragrances to mask the scent of other ingredients. If you’re sensitive, opt for products labeled “fragrance-free.”

Remember, sensitivity to one fragrance ingredient doesn’t mean you’ll react to them all. But given the complexity and lack of transparency in fragrance formulations (they’re considered trade secrets), many people with fragrance allergies opt to avoid all fragranced products.

hydroquinone chemical structure

Hydroquinone Allergy

Hydroquinone allergy is not uncommon. You may get a rash after using a prescription skin lightening product. If you are allergic to hydroquinone, you need to avoid all hydroquinone derivatives.

You may also be allergic to these hydroquinone-derived cosmeceuticals:

arbutin

kojic acid

kojic acid and arbutin have a similar structure to hydroquinone.

These are the most common skincare ingredients that cause a skin allergy (in alphabetical order):

2,5 Diaminotoluene Sulfate

2,6-Ditert-butyl-4-cresol (BHT)

2-Ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (Eusolex 6007) (Padimate O) (Octyl Dimethyl paba)

2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (Parsol MCX)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-4-methylbenzophenone (Mexenone)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenon-5-sulfonic acid (Sulisobenzone)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (Eusolex 4360)

2-Nitro-P-Phenylenediamine

2-tert-Butyl-4-methoxyphenol (BHA)

3-(4-Methylbenzyliden)camphor (Eusolex 6300)

3-Aminophenol Hydroquinone

4-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

4-Aminophenol

4-Chloro-3-cresol (PCMC)

4-tert-Butyl-4’-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol 1789) (Avobenzone)

Aloe vera

Ammonium Persulfate

Ammonium Thioglycolate

Angelica

Arnica

Balsam of Peru (myroxylon pereirae)

Beeswax

Benzoic Acid

Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone)

Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl salicylate

Bisabolol

Bladderwrack

Calendula (Marigold)

Camphor

Carmine

Catnip

Centella (gotu-kola)

Cetyl alcohol

Chamomile

Chloracetamide

Chlorhexidine gluconate

Cocamide DEA

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Colophony (rosin)

Compositae Mix

Coriander

Cucumber

Di-alpha-tocopherol acetate

Dog rose hips

Echinacea

Essential oils.

Euxyl K 400 (Methyldibromo-glutaronitrile-phenoxyethanol)

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde Releasing Preservatives (FRPs):

Quaternium 15

Imidazolidinyl Urea (Germall)

Diazolidinyl Urea (Germall II)

Bromonitropropane diol (Bronopol)

DMDM Hydantoin

Gingko

Glyceryl Thioglycolate

Goldenseal

Green tea

Homomenthylsalicylate (Homosalate)

Hops

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone (Idebenone)

Isoamyl-p-methoxycinnamate

Isopropyl myristate

Kelp

Lanolin alcohol

Lavender

Licorice

Marigold

Methoxycinnamate

Methyl Methacrylate

Methylchloroisothiazolone (MCI)

Methylisothiazolinone

Niacinamide- some unpure forms cause an allergic reaction while pure forms do not.

Octyl salicylate (Octisalate)

Parabens

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD)+

Phenylbenzimidazol-5-sulfonic acid (Eusolex 232)

Potassium Dichromate

Propolis (bee’s glue)

Propyl gallate

Propylene Glycol

P-Tert-Butylphenol Formaldehyde Resin

Resorcinol

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract)

Sage

Sesquiterpene Lactone

Sodium Benzoate

Sorbic Acid

Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80)

Sorbitan sesquioleate

St. John’s wort

Stearyl alcohol

Tea Tree Oil

tert-Butylhydroquinone

Tocopherol

Toluenesulphonamide Formaldehyde Resin (tosylamide)

Triclosan (Irgasan DP 300)

Triethanolamine

Vitamin E

Witch hazel

Ylang Ylang Oil

Natural Plant Ingredients That Can Cause Skin Allergy

Natural and organic products are common causes of skin allergy. Here are some plant derived skin care ingredients that commonly cause skin allergy:

Aloe vera

Angelica

Arnica

Balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae)

Beeswax

Bladderwrack

Catnip

Chamomile

Colophony (rosin)

Compositae Mix

Coriander

Cucumber

Dog rose hips

Echinacea

Ginkgo

Goldenseal

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

Green tea

Hops

Kelp

Lavender

Licorice

Marigold

Propolis (bee’s glue)

Rosemary

Sage

Sesquiterpene lactone

St. John’s wort

Tea tree oil

Witch hazel

Ylang-ylang oil

Sunscreen Ingredients That Cause Skin Allergy

2-Ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (Eusolex 6007) (Padimate O) (Octyl Dimethyl paba)

2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (Parsol MCX)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-4-methylbenzophenone (Mexenone)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenon-5-sulfonic acid (Sulisobenzone)

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (Eusolex 4360)

3-(4-Methylbenzyliden)camphor (Eusolex 6300)

4-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

4-tert-Butyl-4’-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol 1789) (Avobenzone)

Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone)

Homomenthylsalicylate (Homosalate)

Isoamyl-p-methoxycinnamate

Octyl salicylate (Octisalate)

Phenylbenzimidazol-5-sulfonic acid (Eusolex 232)

Preservatives that cause skin allergy

Benzoic acid

Benzyl alcohol

Euxyl K 400 (Methyldibromo glutaronitrile and phenoxyethanol)

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde-releasing-preservatives

(FRPs):

Quaternium 15

Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall)

Diazolidinyl urea (Germall II)

Bromonitropropane diol (Bronopol)

DMDM hydantoin

Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiozolinone (MCI/MI)

P-tert-Butylphenol formaldehyde resin

Parabens

Propylene glycol

Sodium benzoate

Toluenesulphonamide Formaldehyde

Resin (tosylamide)

Fragrance in Skin Care That Causes Skin Allergy

Balsam of Peru

Essential oils.

Fragrance Mix 1

Fragrance Mix 2

Cinnamic alcohol

Eugenol

Cinnamic aldehyde

Isoeugenol

Geraniol

Lyral

Ylang-ylang

Hydroxycitronella

Oak moss absolute

Benzyl Alcohol

Narcissus

Jasmine

Citral

Sandalwood

Farnesol

Citronellol

Tea tree

a-Hexyl-cinnamic aldehyde

Coumarin

α-amyl cinnamic aldehyde

Our advice is to write down everything you put on your face in the last 12 hours. With time you will start to see a pattern and this can help you narrow down which ingredients caused the reaction. You can also see a dermatologist and get patch testing done to identify the exact allergens.

It is so difficult to figure out what you are allergic to. You may even be allergic to more than one skin care ingredient. So if this is a concern for you- get patch testing done by your dermatologist. It will make buying skin care so much easier for you!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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