If you have sensitive skin or are noticing new sensitivities, use the below tips to avoid common skin triggers from ingredients found in many (natural and conventional) personal care and  household products.

Fragrance & Essential Oils

• Fragrance-free, unscented, or low-scents are best, especially for facial care.
• Always check the ingredients list for “parfum” or “fragrance.”
• Essential oils aren’t always obvious, but certain fragrance allergens must legally be listed at the end of the ingredients list, like linalool, benzyl benzoate, geraniol, coumarin, limonene, cinnamaldehyde, citronellol, citral, etc.

Harsh Preservatives

• Preservatives are necessary for water-based products, but some can be more irritating, such as:
• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), & Benzisothiazolinone - found in many household products, even natural detergents
• Formaldehyde releasers -e.g., Quaternium-15, DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea
• Phenoxyethanol - although legally limited to 1% in formulations, it is now extremely prevalent in skin, body and haircare as a popular replacement for parabens.

Drying Alcohols

• Watch for SD, ethanol, ethyl, isopropyl, and denatured alcohols, commonly found in hand sanitizers, toners, lotions and various personal care products 
• Not to be confused with fatty alcohols, which are actually moisturizing e.g., cetyl, cetearyl, behenyl or stearyl alcohols

Sensitizing Exfoliants

• Sensitive skin often struggles with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), particularly glycolic acid. Opt for Polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), which are gentler and don’t cause photosensitivity.
• Salicylates (like salicylic acid) can be allergenic or overused. Try azelaic acid or mandelic acid (a gentler AHA great for acne-prone skin).
• Avoid physical exfoliants that can cause microtears, like nut shells, sugar or salt scrubs, pumice or volcanic ash. Use a soft washcloth or jojoba beads instead, and resist the urge to "scrub"!
• Be mindful of enzyme exfoliants like bromelain and papain, especially if you have a latex allergy. There are other great enzymatic sources like cranberry, prickly pear, pomegranate and pumpkin.

Irritating Actives

• Retinoids and ascorbic acid (pure Vitamin C) are powerful but can cause irritation.

Certain Surfactants

• Many know to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS),  but cocamidopropyl betaine is widely used now especially in natural cleansers and shampoos, and has been shown to be more commonly allergenic
• TEA (Triethanolamine) , DEA (Diethanolamine) have safety concerns and are irritating
• We also recommend avoiding ethoxylated ingredients (you can find them because they often containing “eth” like sodium laurETH sulfate). Though meant to make raw materials less harsh and even marketed as gentle, it’s not worth the potential for trace contamination of 1,4, dioxane, which is a known carcinagen.

We know it can feel overwhelming, but try to read ingredient labels and test new products on a small area first! 💚