irritant

Essential Oils

Evidencemoderate · Tier 2Irritation riskModerateIn products2

Contains terpenes (linalool, limonene, geraniol) and terpenoids that oxidize on skin to form sensitizing hydroperoxides. Lavender, tea tree, and citrus oils are the most common culprits.

The research

Essential Oils is a irritant backed by a moderate body of supporting evidence (evidence tier 2 of 4). We track 3 studies for it, 3 reporting a positive effect.

Read the research — 3 studies

Essential Oils and Their Single Compounds in Cosmetics—A Critical Review

Q85

Cosmetics · 2018 · systematic review

Balanced review concluding that essential oils in cosmetics carry non-trivial sensitization risk; sensitization prevalence has increased alongside rising essential oil popularity in "natural" cosmetics; fragrance-free claims may not exclude essential oils in all jurisdictions; recommends patch testing for essential oil-containing products in sensitive patients

Allergy to tea tree oil: Retrospective review of 41 cases with positive patch tests over 4.5 years

Q50

Australasian Journal of Dermatology · 2007 · observational

Retrospective review of 41 patients with positive patch tests to tea tree oil over 4.5 years confirms tea tree oil as a clinically relevant contact allergen, with oxidized/aged oil implicated, illustrating sensitization risk from essential oils in leave-on products.

Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition

Q10

Contact Dermatitis · 2016 · review

Systematic review of tea tree oil contact allergy: prevalence 1.4-3.5% in consecutive patch test patients; oxidized tea tree oil was significantly more allergenic than fresh oil; ascaridole and peroxide degradation products identified as the primary sensitizers; recommends against tea tree oil in leave-on products for sensitive skin

Products with Essential Oils

In 2 products — most often serums (1), toners (1), from $73.15 to $90.00. Set up a profile to rank these for your skin. Click any product to learn more.