Let me guess… You’re right here since you’ve had an allergic response to a skincare product and are questioning if Benzyl Salicylate might be the offender.
Let’s discover out:
What Is Benzyl Salicylate?
Benzyl Salicylate (also referred to as Benzyl 2-hydroxybenzoate) is an ester of Salicylic Acid and Benzyl Alcohol. You’ll find it in cloves and several other aromatic important oils.
At room temperature, Benzyl Salicylate is an virtually colourless liquid. It additionally a stunning floral aroma (trace: that’s its essential use in skincare).
Right here’s one thing chances are you’ll not know: this ingredient isn’t unique to skincare. Benzyl Salicylate is a typical ingredient in perfumes, deodorants, shampoos, and even family cleansing merchandise. It’s usually added to create an exquisite scent or make it linger longer. You would possibly even discover it listed on the again of scented candles!
So, even when your skincare routine is fragrance-free, you could possibly nonetheless encounter Benzyl Salicylate in different merchandise. Don’t say I haven’t warned ya!
What Does Benzyl Salicylate Do In Skincare?
Benzyl Salicylate does nothing on your pores and skin. It will possibly’t moisturise it, soothe it, or make it age extra slowly. Right here’s what it does as an alternative:
- Perfume: It provides skincare merchandise a faint, candy floral or musky scent. (Hint impurities in crops can affect and barely change its odour).
- Perfume fixative: It helps perfume higher adhere to your pores and skin and last more. That’s good if you happen to purchase a fragrance. Not so good in a moisturiser… (Preserve studying to seek out out why)
- Ultraviolet gentle absorber: Don’t confuse it with UV filter. It’s not a sunscreen. It simply protects skincare merchandise or packaging from deteriorating when uncovered to UV rays.
Enjoyable reality: Benzyl Salicylate is a favourite within the perfume trade as a result of it blends nicely with different scent elements. It provides depth and complexity, creating these signature scents all of us love. You’ll usually see it paired with jasmine, ylang-ylang, or lily-of-the-valley.
For those who’re a fan of contemporary, flowery fragrances, likelihood is you’ve encountered Benzyl Salicylate extra occasions than you’ll be able to depend.
Associated: Is Perfume In Skincare As Dangerous As Paula Begoun Says?
Is Benzyl Salicylate Protected
Like all perfume substances, Benzyl Salicylate may cause irritations and allergic reactions – even in small quantities.
Let’s be clear: most individuals can use it safely. However when you have delicate pores and skin and had a unfavourable response to a skincare product, that is prone to be the offender.
For this reason it’s a part of the “EU 26 fragrances” group that needs to be labelled individually. For those who’re allergic to it, you want to know earlier than you purchase that moisturiser.
What does this imply for you? The EU has strict laws about itemizing potential allergens, which is a win for shoppers with delicate pores and skin. In different elements of the world, chances are you’ll must dig a bit deeper. If this ingredient isn’t explicitly listed, search for phrases like “perfume” or “parfum”. These might be sneaky catch-all phrases hiding this ingredient.
Ought to You Use Benzyl Salicylate?
Fragrances aren’t the satan the skincare world makes them out to be. Certain, they don’t have any advantages for the pores and skin. However, they make skincare software a extra nice expertise for thousands and thousands of girls.
For those who take pleasure in scented skincare and the perfume doesn’t trouble your pores and skin, there’s no cause to cease utilizing it. It received’t hurt your pores and skin.
Delicate pores and skin? It is advisable watch out. Perfume-free skincare is the best choice for you.
Right here’s the kicker: even fragrance-free merchandise aren’t all the time 100% fragrance-free. Some might use substances like Benzyl Salicylate to masks disagreeable base odors whereas nonetheless advertising the product as “unscented.” All the time examine the label if you happen to’re liable to unfavourable reactions.
The Backside Line
Benzyl Salicylate makes your skincare merchandise odor good. In case your pores and skin doesn’t have an issue with perfume, no hurt in that. Preserve having fun with its floral scent. Delicate pores and skin? That is an ingredient you wish to keep away from.
Oh, and one last item. Simply because it reveals up on the ingredient checklist doesn’t routinely make it a villain. It’s all about discovering what works on your pores and skin. If one thing makes you glow and odor like a bouquet, who’s to argue with that?