Heads Up: Your Skin May Be Sensitive to Citrus

Have you ever had a skin reaction to a product but didn’t know which ingredient was the problem? It’s possible you’re sensitive to citrus. Even though citrus is a natural product, it is still possible that you could be sensitive to it.

Here’s all you need to know about citrus and your facial and skin products. We share 8 citrus ingredients that may be in your products, 3 citrus sensitivity skin reactions, the benefits and #1 downside of using products with citrus ingredients, and a few products citrus-sensitive individuals can use.

By the way, we’re excited to share this information with you because most sites talk about citrus allergies in foods--not sensitivities to products. But we both know how frustrating it can be to have a skin reaction and not know what to do next. Learning more about citrus and its possible reactions on the skin will help us make smarter decisions when choosing products.

8 Citrus Ingredients That May Be in Your Products

• Lemon
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Tangerine
• Mandarin
• Bergamot
• Yuzu
• Petitgrain

Most irritating citrus compounds are derived from the peel of the fruit and is usually where the essential oil is distilled or pressed from.

Note that lemongrass and lemon verbena are not citrus fruit extracts/oils. Neroli smells like citrus, but it’s derived from the flower of the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain is not irritating to some simply because it is derived from the twigs of a citrus tree as opposed to the fruit, though some might still find it irritating.

3 Citrus Sensitivity Skin Reactions

Reactions to citrus in facial and skin products aren’t always obvious. That said, pay attention if citrus is an ingredient in a product you use and you experience the following issues:

• Gradually increasing breakouts
• Scaly skin (that makes you think you need to exfoliate, but, ironically, exfoliating makes the issue worse)
• Redness and irritation in patches

Benefits of Using Products with Citrus Ingredients

Here’s why people use citrus as an ingredient in their products:

• It provides sebum balance for excessively oily skin and scalp
• It promotes natural glow
• It can be mildly exfoliating
• It’s a skin brightener
• It uplifts and promotes joy and optimism when used aromatherapeutically

#1 Downside of Using Products with Citrus Ingredients

• It creates phototoxicity in some individuals. What this means is that in individuals who are photosensitive to citrus, exposure to sunlight while wearing citrus on their skin creates a photo-toxic reaction.

Products Citrus-Sensitive Individuals Can Use

Rejalla is proud to offer a variety of products from our Nourishing line. Everyone can find something that works for them.

• Nourishing Facial Mask, Facial Oil, Body Oil and Conditioner
• The Hydrating Facial Serum, which contains the maximum amount of water-based orange and lemon fruit extracts (so from the fruit and not the peel). Even the most citrus-sensitive person on the Rejalla team experienced ZERO skin irritation even after going through a full bottle of product.

Now you know a lot more about citrus sensitivity. Leave a comment and let us know if you have this issue and how you found out. We’d also love to hear your feedback on how our citrus-sensitive products are working for you.