A note on allergies: there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic product, it is, sadly, a marketing gimmick. People with skin sensitivities should always, always perform patch tests to determine if a product causes a reaction (see below).

SENSITIVE SKIN AND ALLERGIES?

I formulate my skincare for those without major skin issues, medical conditions that impact skin function, or those with very sensitive reactive skin or allergies.

The occurrence of sensitive, reactive skin is alarmingly common. If you have sensitive, reactive skin, please check for irritation whenever you introduce a new product and introduce new things very slowly and one at a time.

If you experience tingling of the skin upon application of ANYTHING - that’s irritation. and a sign that the Acid Mantle (aka moisture barrier) is impaired to some extent. It can be acute or chronic. Immediately remove what caused it with lukewarm water. Follow up with a cold compress to calm the skin. Please consider steps to determine the cause, and strive to resolve your sensitives to improve long-term skin health. If you have allergies, please perform a complete patch test whenever adopting new skin products.

Special note regarding Essential Oils: Essential oils are safe when used externally in low concentrations (no higher than 5%) To err on the side of caution, In my formulations which include essential oils I keep my concentrations between 1 and 4%.

A small proportion of people may experience skin irritation, allergic reactions, or cross-sensitivity to essential oils. Cross-sensitivity is the potential for an allergic reaction to similar substances (for example, if you are allergic to ragweed, you might also be allergic to chamomile essential oils). Irritation is characterized by a rapid onset of redness and pain in the skin exposed to the essential oil. It can occur with the first exposure. The skin generally heals without long-term problems, but you probably would not want to use the essential oil that irritates you again. 

If you are someone who is taking a lot of prescription medication and/or has a lot of allergies, you should do a patch test by following the instructions below to check for skin irritation and sensitivity before using a product that contains essential oil.  

How to Perform a Patch Test: Using the inside of the forearm, apply a small amount of product to the pad of a bandaid and keep the bandage on the skin for 48 hours. After 48 hours remove the bandage and check for irritation. If the skin under or around the bandage becomes red, swollen, itchy, or develops blisters, that is a reaction and you should avoid skin exposure to the essential oil in the product you are You may repeat to check for allergic sensitivity. Remember, however, that allergies can develop any time after the first exposure; thus absence of a reaction does not necessarily mean that an allergy will not develop with further exposure)

Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Precautions: I you are planning to get pregnant, already pregnant, or breastfeeding your child, you are advised against contact with essential oil without the consent of your doctor. Please seek advice from your physician. There are many resources available online as well which list essential oils to avoid, which are considered safe, and in what concentrations.