Pure Essential Oils
Look out for products with pure essential oils in them, and try to avoid them if possible--they may be leading to skin irritation and other problems, even hyperpigmentation, if you aren't careful. Dr.
Charlotte Birnbaum of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City explains the problem with essential oils: "Many people equate 'natural' with 'safe,' which is not always the case. Be careful with pure essential oils, especially rose or lavender, which contain geraniol. This can cause an allergic or irritant reaction on the skin."
Those aren't the only essential oils you should look out for. Birnbaum continues, "Citrus essential oils can cause a reaction in the sun called phytophotodermatitis, which can lead to hyperpigmentation of the skin, so avoid oils with lemon, lime, or bergamot."
It's also a good idea to restrict these oils if you have acne-prone skin, as they can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Birnbaum explains to SheFinds: "Oils in general are comedogenic, meaning they clog pores. If you are acne-prone, I would steer clear of oils."
Using a night cream with comedogenic ingredients could lead to you waking up with some serious breakouts.
With that in mind, it's important not to blindly trust any skincare product labeled "natural" or "organic," because they might still be sneaking in skin-harming ingredients into their products.