Skincare Ingredients That Cause Allergic Reactions on the Face
If you have had a face allergy to a skin cream or new skincare products, 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, 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.
If you suffer from skin allergies you have two choices:
1. Figure out what you are allergic to by keeping a diary or getting patch testing.
2. Find a skincare brand that is hypoallergenic.
Our favorite hypoallergenic skincare brand was developed by a dermatologist and does not have the 100 most common allergens in it.
You can find the hypoallergenic brand here.
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 alcohol
Benzyl salicylate
Bladderwrack
Catnip
Centella (gotu-kola)
Cetyl alcohol
Chamomile
Chloracetamide
Chlorhexidine digluconate
Cocamide DEA
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Colophony (rosin)
Compositae Mix
Coriander
Cucumber
Di-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E)
Dog rose hips
Echinacea
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
Glyceryl Thioglycolate
Goldenseal
Green tea
Homomenthylsalicylate (Homosalate)
Hops
Hydrogen Peroxide
Isoamyl-p-methoxycinnamate
Isopropyl myristate
Kelp
Lanolin alcohol
Lavender
Licorice
Marigold
Methoxycinnamate
Methyl Methacrylate
Methylchloroisothiazolone (MCI)
Methylisothiazolinone
Niacinamide
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
Sage
Sesquiterpene Lactone
Sodium Benzoate
Sorbic Acid
Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80)
Sorbitan sesquioleate
St. John’s wort
Stearyl alcohol
Tea Tree Oil
tert-Butylhydroquinone
Toluenesulphonamide Formaldehyde Resin (tosylamide)
Triclosan (Irgasan DP 300)
Triethanolamine
Witch hazel
Ylang Ylang Oil
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.