Allergens in Organic Cosmetics
ALLERGENS IN NATURAL & ORGANIC COSMETICS – WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW?
ALLERGENS IN NATURAL & ORGANIC COSMETICS – WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW?Natural & Organic products may be even MORE ALLERGENIC than synthetic ones. Natural & Organic products contain essential oils and other natural ingredients that are sources of allergens, naturally found in the plants.
The 26 most common allergens can be found here...
| INCI NAME | ORIGIN | Can be found in |
| ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE | Synthetic | |
| AMYL CINNAMAL | Synthetic | |
| AMYLCINNAMYL ALCOHOL | Synthetic | |
| ANISE ALCOHOL | Synthetic or Natural | Honey, essential oils of Anise, Tomatoes, Tahiti Vanilla |
| BENZYL ALCOHOL | Synthetic or Natural | Peru Balsam, Tolu Balsam, Essential oils of Jasmin, Apricot, Almond, Apple, Asparagus, Banana, Black Currant, Blackberry |
| BENZYL BENZOATE | Synthetic or Natural | Peru Balsam, Tolu Balsam, Essential oils of Jasmin, Ylang-Ylang |
| BENZYL CINNAMATE | Synthetic or Natural | Peru Balsam, Tolu Balsam, Copahu |
| BENZYL SALICYLATE | Synthetic or Natural | Propolis |
| BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL | Synthetic | It is a synthetic fragrance compound with a strong floral scent. It replicates the beautiful smell of the flowers known as “lilies of the valley”. |
| CINNAMAL | Synthetic or Natural | Essential oils of Cinnamon, hyacinth, Patchouli, Nutmeg |
| CINNAMYL ALCOHOL | Synthetic or Natural | Hyacinth |
| CITRAL | Synthetic or Natural | Allergen that appears in essential oils of lemon, essential oils of orange peel, essential oils of eucalyptus, grapefruit, orange, celeris, apricot, blackcurrant, grape, kiwi, mango, ginger, melon, plum, raspberry, rose |
| CITRONELLOL | Synthetic or Natural | Allergen that appears in essential oils of lemon grass, essential oils of Ceylon, apple, apricot, cassis, blackberry, blueberry, orange, passion fruit, peach, rose |
| COUMARIN | Synthetic or Natural | Woodruff, Flouves, Sweet clover, Angelique, Berce |
| EUGENOL | Synthetic or Natural | Essential oils of Clove, Allspice, Bay (Myrcia acris), Avens, Ceylon cinnamon, Laurel, Cistus, labdanifere, Basil sassafras, Basil Java, Cassie, Sweet flag, Carnation, Boldo, Cascarille, Galangal, Bay leaves, Nutmeg, Pale rose, ylang-ylang, marjoram, calamus, camphor, lemongrass, patchouli |
| FARNESOL | Synthetic or Natural | Essential oils of rose, Neroli, Ylang-ylang, Lime tree, Tolu Balsam |
| GERANIOL | Synthetic or Natural | Allergen that appears in rose oil, orange, palmarosa, thyme, verbena, neroli, lemongrass, geranium, hyssop, laurel, lavender, mandarin orange, lemon balm, nutmeg, myrtle, apple, apricot, black cranberries, blackcurrant, blackberry, coriander, ginger, nutmeg, thyme, geranium, rose, ylang-ylang |
| HEXYL CINNAMAL | Synthetic or Natural | Essential Oils of Cinnamon and Jasmin |
| HYDROXYCITRONNELLAL | Synthetic | |
| HYDROXYISOHEXYL 3-CYCLOHEXENE CARBOXALDEHYDE | Synthetic | |
| ISOEUGENOL | Synthetic or Natural | Essential Oils of citronella, Essential Oils of Ceylon, Essential Oils of ylang ylang |
| LIMONENE | Synthetic or Natural | Allergen that appears in essential oils of: lemon, dill, common juniper, orange, verbena, neroli, niaouli, melaleuca, lemon balsam, pepper mint, nutmeg, myrrh, angelica, aspic, anise, bergamot, mandarin orange, bitter orange, caraway, celery, lavender, lime |
| LINALOOL | Synthetic or Natural | Allergen that appears in essential oils of: thyme, lavender, pine, laurel, sour orange, marjoram, peppermint, lemon, orange, thyme, ylang-ylang, verbena, myrtle, neroli, coriander, geranium, lime, lemon balsam, nutmeg, lemongrass, basil, bergamot, rosewood, banana, blackberry, bean, blueberry, apple, apricot, artichoke, thyme, rose, palmarosa |
| METHYL 2-OCTYNOATE | Synthetic | |
| EVERNIA PRUNASTRI (OAK MOSS) | Natural | Oak moss extract |
| EVERNIA FURFURACEA (TREE MOSS) | Natural | Tree moss extract |
If one of the 26 substances in the chart is present in a product formula, producers are obliged to comply with the labelling requirements (rules) of the European Regulation that states (Annex 10 III entry 83 of the Cosmetics Regulation No 1223/2009):
The allergenic substances must appear on the label if:
- The concentration is higher than 0.01% in a rinse-off product, e.g. shampoos, shower gels,
- The concentration is higher than 0.001% in a leave-on product, e.g. creams, lotions.
If an allergen is contained in different ingredient of the product, producer has to add up all concentrations to verify the threshold and label the product in accordance with the rule above.
As a cosmetics manufacturer we often have to explain our decision to use a certain ingredient in a product. Very often people worry or complain about effect of certain ingredient, which they have read on the internet about. Unfortunately, the internet articles are not always based on scientific research, and often even the scientists do not agree on every aspect of an ingredient.
