You Could Be Allergic to Your Beauty Products

By Chloe Metzger

As someone who is allergic to most awesome things (dairy, soy, avocados, being outside), I’ve become adept at navigating food labels and blooming gardens. The only area where I’m lax: My products. I mean, if I’m not shoving it into my mouth or rolling around in it, it can’t hurt me, right? I ran my sound logic by cosmetic allergist Julie Kuriakose, and surprise! I was wrong. Products containing the same ingredients that make you sneeze, wheeze, and feel sick to your stomach can also cause issues on your skin, says Kuriakose.

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Even a few drops of, say, avocado oil or blueberry extract may still contain the fruit’s protein, which is what causes a person’s allergic reaction, Kuriakose explains. And if you have seasonal allergies, don’t think you’re home free just because products never contain ragweed or pollen. Get ready for this truth: Chamomile and honey are both part of the ragweed family; tea tree oil contains tree pollen, and daisy extract comes from weeds.

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Of course, you probably won’t go into anaphylactic shock from a few dabs of daisy-extract lotion—unless your allergies are really severe—but the aftermath isn’t really worth the risk. “Intense itching and redness that last for days are common symptoms of an allergic reaction to a product,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. Or if your scalp suddenly and persistently itches, even if you didn’t use anything in your hair, you could be having a reaction, adds Kuriakose.

Photo: Richard Rutledge

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