Patch Testing and Potential Reactions

Lyonsleaf products are formulated with sensitive skin in mind, and reactions are very rare. Because our products are water-free, we don't need the antimicrobial preservatives found in most conventional cosmetics, and preservatives are one of the most common causes of reactions to skincare generally. But no ingredient, however natural, is entirely hypoallergenic, everyone's skin is different, and patch testing is a simple way to find out how your skin responds before you commit to using something more widely.

If you are unfortunate enough to develop Topical Steroid Withdrawal you may react to all sorts of ingredients that you never reacted to before, and that are generally not reactive. You may also find that you are fine with a product one week and not the next.

How to Patch Test

  1. Apply a small amount of the product to an inconspicuous area of skin, the inside of your forearm or behind your ear both work well.
  2. Leave it undisturbed, don't wash the area or cover it with clothing that will rub it off.
  3. Check back after 24 hours, and again after 48 hours. Some reactions take a day or two to show.
  4. If your skin looks and feels normal after 48 hours, it's reasonable to try the product on the area you actually want to use it on.

This matters more the more sensitive or compromised your skin is, and it's always worth doing again for a new product, even one from a brand you already know and trust.

What to Look Out For

A genuine reaction usually means redness, itching, swelling, small bumps or blistering at the test site. This is different from a brief tingle or warmth on application, which some natural ingredients can cause without it meaning anything's wrong, though if that sensation doesn't settle within a few minutes, treat it the same as any other reaction and stop.

Lyonsleaf Ingredients That Could Cause Reactions

We rarely hear of reactions to our products because we choose our ingredients with sensitive skin in mind. If you do react these are the most likely culprits:

  • Fragrance: Fragrance is one of the most common causes of reactions to cosmetics. We only use natural essential oils, never synthetic fragrance, but essential oils are active plant compounds and naturally contain some recognised fragrance allergens, such as linalool and limonene. That's why they're listed on our labels. If you have very sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy, choose from our fragrance-free products.
  • Calendula: Calendula can occasionally cause a reaction in people with sesquiterpene lactone allergy, a rare allergy to compounds found across the daisy (Compositae) family, which also includes yarrow, arnica and chamomile. Reacting to one of these plants doesn't mean you'll react to them all, but it's a good reason to patch test the others. Topically applied sunflower oil is unlikely to trigger a reaction: although sunflowers belong to the daisy family, these compounds are not found in any quantity in the seeds the oil is pressed from.
  • Any other ingredient: Reactions to the other ingredients we use are almost unheard of, but no ingredient can be completely ruled out. If you have a known allergy, check the full ingredients list on the product page.

If You Do React

Stop using the product and wash the area gently with cool water. Most reactions are mild and settle on their own once the product is removed.

Serious allergic reactions, involving swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing, can occur with cosmetic products, although we're glad to say none have ever been reported to us relating to Lyonsleaf products. If this happens to you, treat it as a medical emergency and seek help immediately.

Whatever the reaction, please also contact us directly. We take every report seriously, we're required to inform the relevant regulator of any serious reaction. If it turns out you have reacted to one of our products, we'll give you a full refund.

If your skin is already broken or compromised, or you're using a product on an infant, see our Using Unpreserved Skincare on Broken Skin page for the additional care needed.