It is important to know that almost any substance, whether natural or synthetic (man-made), has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. This is because our bodies are all different and allergies occur when our bodies react to a substance. Take peanuts, for instance, most people enjoy them without ever experiencing issues, while some can have very severe reactions to them.
Allergies affect more than 20% of people in the UK*, with reactions ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening situations. While severe adverse reactions to ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products are rare, it is important to understand how to spot the signs of an allergy and know what action to take.
How do I know if I’m allergic?
Allergy is a term that is often misused to describe all kinds of adverse reactions, but actually there are two main types: irritant reactions and allergic reactions. While they may sound, and sometimes feel, similar, there is a big difference between being irritated by a substance and being allergic to it.
Irritant reactions are the most common adverse reaction and occur rapidly following use of a product. Redness of the skin, sometimes with an itch, is characteristic of an irritant effect. This clears up rapidly after use of the product is stopped.
Allergic reactions involve the body's immune system. A person who becomes allergic to a substance will be sensitised to it for the rest of their life.
Will I have a reaction straight away?
Allergic reactions are not always immediate because there are two main types of allergies:
Immediate: this is an allergic reaction that occurs suddenly, generally a few minutes after exposure to the allergen (the substance that has caused the reaction). Common examples are hayfever triggered by pollen or allergic asthma triggered by animal hair.
Delayed: this type of allergic reaction does not show until some time, usually 24 to 72 hours, after contact with the allergen. An example is delayed allergic contact dermatitis' triggered by skin contact with the allergen.
Can ingredients in cosmetics cause allergies?
Substances known to cause widespread allergic reactions are not used in cosmetics but, because our bodies all behave differently, we might find we are allergic to substances in our cosmetics and toiletries. It is important to always check the ingredients list of the cosmetic product you intend to buy or use to make sure it does not contain any ingredients to which you are allergic. Some of the ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products that can more commonly cause allergic reactions include:
Preservatives
These are safe ingredients which are essential for keeping our products bug-free, so avoiding them completely just isn’t necessary or possible. However, some preservatives can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. There is a short list of effective preservatives that are allowed to be used in cosmetic products, which means that, if you experience any issues with a certain ingredient, you can be confident about which one to avoid in the future, by checking the ingredients list.
PPD in hair dyes
The ingredient para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is used in permanent hair dyes because it is the best way to achieve permanent hair colour and cover grey hair. While the number of reactions to PPD in hair dye is very low, it is important to follow the instructions on pack. This includes always carrying out an allergy alert test when instructed.
Find more information on hair dye allergy and how to carry out an Allergy Alert Test download our Allergy factsheet.
Fragrance (Parfum)
Fragrances are included in all kinds of products and though rare, reactions to them can sometimes occur. If you’re allergic to certain fragrance ingredients you should avoid all fragrance, which is shown on the list of ingredients by the word "parfum", unless you’ve checked that the specific fragrance ingredient to which you’re allergic is not included in the product. Helpfully, a large number of fragrance ingredients known to cause a higher incidence of allergy will be listed individually on the pack to help you make an informed choice.
Acrylates in UV gel or acrylic nails
Artificial nails often contain acrylate monomers – chemicals which react together when exposed to the curing lamp to form the smooth, long-lasting nail surface. These ingredients can cause allergic skin reactions in some people and the risk comes from the liquid form of these chemicals before they harden. To stay safe, it is important to avoid getting the product on the skin, use the correct lamp to fully cure gel nails, and make sure any leftover product is removed carefully to avoid skin contact. Don't use products at home which are labelled as being for professionals only.
How do I know if a product contains an ingredient I am allergic to?
By law, all cosmetic products sold in the UK must display a complete ingredients list. Ingredient labelling helps people to identify products with ingredients to which they know they are allergic. Ingredient names must, by law, use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, known as INCI. This means that whether you buy your cosmetics in the UK or Europe, the ingredient names will be the same. These INCI names have also been adopted by many countries worldwide. Read more in the section Understanding Cosmetic Product Labels.
If you have been diagnosed with an allergy to a substance, you may have been given the substance's chemical name or common name. To find the INCI names for cosmetics ingredients more frequently associated with allergies or sensitisation, download our INCI tables factsheet.
What does 'hypoallergenic' mean?
'Hypo-' means 'less than' or 'decreased' so, when used to describe cosmetics, the term hypoallergenic means 'reduced potential to cause allergic reactions'. Manufacturers will have made special efforts in the selection of ingredients and through product testing to further reduce the already low incidence of adverse reactions to cosmetic products. These products may still contain fragrance, identified in the ingredients list as 'parfum'.
Allergy safety tips
Since there is the possibility for anyone to be allergic to almost anything, including the ingredients in our cosmetics and personal care products, it is important to know how to stay allergy aware. Here are some of the steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Always look at the label
Ingredient labelling can help you to identify products that contain ingredients to which you know you’re allergic. By law, all cosmetic products sold in the UK must display a complete ingredients list and must use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, known as INCI.
Allergy Alert Test
If you’re planning to dye your hair at home or in the salon, always carry out an allergy alert test (sometimes referred to as a ‘patch test’) first when this is instructed on the product. This allows you to first test a small amount of the product on your skin to check if you’re likely to have an allergic reaction to it.
Avoid ‘black henna’ tattoos
While the ingredient para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is used safely in permanent hair dyes it is sometimes used illegally in so-called ‘black henna’ temporary tattoos. When PPD is applied directly to the skin in a tattoo it can leave you with a swollen, sore, red ‘burn’. It can also sensitise you to PPD, making your skin more susceptible to future reactions when you use other safe products containing PPD, including hair dyes. Download our 'Black henna' temporary tattoos factsheet.
Don’t use professional-only nail products at home
UV Gel and L&P Nail Systems can cause allergic reactions and skin inflammation in some people, if not applied correctly. These issues aren’t just confined to your fingertips, problems can occur anywhere the nail gel comes into contact with your skin - even on the face if you touch your face after applying the product. These sorts of reactions can cause skin damage and lifelong side-effects. Never use nail products or equipment labelled as ‘professional-use only’ at home - it’s not worth the risk.
For information on how to minimise the allergy risk from artificial nails, download a helpful fact sheet on Artificial nails and minimising allergy
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has a campaign to warn consumers about the potential dangers of using certain illegal and unsafe cosmetic products. Read more here.
What should I do if I've had a reaction to a cosmetic product?
While many reactions turn out to be irritant reactions, if you are experiencing symptoms always contact a medical professional for advice. It is really important that you also contact the manufacturer of your product (careline or helpline numbers are provided on the pack and further contact details will be available on their websites) so that they are aware that someone has experienced a reaction to their product. By law, companies must record and monitor unwanted reactions to their products and in some cases they need to report these to the authorities, so they need to hear about reactions. For further information about what to do if you experience an unwanted reaction to a product, please see our Consumer Guide on Unwanted Allergic Reactions.
It’s completely understandable to feel concerned if you experience a reaction to a cosmetic product, but this doesn’t mean the product itself is unsafe. All cosmetic products on the UK market must pass strict safety assessments before they can be sold. However, just like some individuals can be allergic to foods that most people eat without any problems, a small number of people may react to certain cosmetic ingredients even though they are widely used and pose no problems for the vast majority of users. This is simply a reflection of our individual biology, not a sign that the product is harmful.
What do companies need to do if someone reacts to their product?
Manufacturers of cosmetic products want their consumers to enjoy using their products. However, companies need to know if someone has a reaction to their product. This is because the law requires companies to record and investigate unwanted reactions, which are called 'undesirable effects' under the law, and any reactions which meet specific seriousness criteria set out in the cosmetics safety law must be reported to the UK authorities. This process of monitoring reactions after a product is sold is called 'Cosmetovigilance'.
The company will ask you to provide information about yourself, the product and the circumstances of the reaction. Those details will be kept confidential in accordance with relevant data protection legislation.
The company may ask you to return the product. If they do, this is normal and will enable it to identify the specific product batch to make sure the complaint can be investigated fully. While reactions are understandably of concern for the individuals who unfortunately experience them, a reaction to a cosmetic product does not necessarily mean that the product itself is unsafe. The company will investigate any reactions to their products to make sure there are no problems with the product and that they are safe for the general population.
Read more:
Allergy factsheet (download)
* Allergy UK
