Lavender and chamomile on skin: what to know
Both are popular for their scent and calming feel, and both can cause contact allergy in a minority of people. Lavender oil is a recognised cause of allergic reactions, especially when it has been exposed to air. Chamomile belongs to the daisy family, so anyone allergic to those plants should avoid it. Patch test first, and never put neat essential oils on your skin.
Our Hyaluronic Acid jar has lavender and chamomile flower powders in it, so we've looked into this. "Plant-based" doesn't mean "can't react", and you should know what's going on before you buy.
Lavender
DermNet calls lavender oil well recognised as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis. It names the main allergens as geraniol, linalool and linalyl acetate. A Japanese study it cites found about 4 per cent of patients with cosmetic allergy were sensitive to lavender oil. That's a group already having problems with cosmetics, not the general population, so the rate in everyone is likely to be lower.
Age matters as well. A patch test study points out that lavender oil's main components react with oxygen in the air and form compounds that are more likely to cause allergy. In that study, 2.8 per cent of patients tested reacted to oxidised lavender oil. That's a good reason to keep lids on tight and not to use old oils.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a member of the Compositae family, also called Asteraceae, along with daisies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers and ragweed. DermNet's page on Compositae allergy says this allergy usually lasts for life and that people with it shouldn't use cosmetics containing these plants. Its page on chamomile adds that a chamomile cream has been reported to cause allergic dermatitis on a number of occasions, and that severe allergic reactions have been reported, though rarely.
So if you know you react to daisies, ragweed, chrysanthemums or chamomile tea, skip chamomile on your skin.
What about essential oils in general?
DermNet's page on essential oils makes a few useful points. Each oil can contain more than a hundred constituents, so people can react to several oils. Don't apply neat, undiluted oils directly to your skin. Allergy symptoms usually settle once you avoid the oil, but can linger if you keep having low-level exposure.
Do they do anything for skin?
On our formula pages, we say what you'll notice, and it's sensory: a calming scent, a cool feel, skin that feels soft. Lots of people find the smell of lavender relaxing. We don't claim it heals anything, helps you sleep, or does anything for a skin condition, and we couldn't find solid evidence that either plant improves healthy skin in a mask.
Which of our jars contain them
This comes straight from our labels:
- Lavender: Hyaluronic Acid, as dried flower powder only.
- Chamomile: Hyaluronic Acid, as dried flower powder only.
Rose and Tea Tree list fragrance, as parfum or aroma, which can also set off a reaction in someone who's sensitive to it. Check the full list on the formula pages.
Sensitive skin: what we'd suggest
If your skin reacts easily, read every label before you choose. Hyaluronic Acid has chamomile, so it won't suit anyone allergic to the daisy family, and it also contains retinol, kojic acid and arbutin. Whichever you choose, if your skin has reacted to a lot of products, it's wise to patch test for longer, or ask your GP about a proper patch test. See how to patch test, and our sensitive skin page.
Questions
Can you put lavender oil directly on your skin?
It's best not to. DermNet advises against putting neat, undiluted essential oils directly on skin, because that can cause sensitisation. Use products made for skin, and patch test first.
Does chamomile help sensitive skin?
Many people find it pleasant, but we can't say it improves sensitive skin. It belongs to the daisy family, so it can cause reactions, especially in people allergic to those plants.
Do Omorfia masks contain fragrance?
Our Rose and Tea Tree jars list fragrance, as parfum or aroma. Hyaluronic Acid doesn't, but it has lavender and chamomile flower powders, and plant ingredients can also cause a reaction in some people. The full list is on each formula's page.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your skin, see your GP or a skin specialist.
Sources
- Lavender, DermNet
- Patch testing with main sensitizers does not detect all cases of contact allergy to oxidized lavender oil, Hagvall and Bråred Christensson, Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2016
- Compositae allergy, DermNet
- Chamomile, DermNet
- Allergic contact dermatitis to essential oils, DermNet