The answer isn’t straightforward. Numerous brands and consumers who favour natural skincare and clean beauty trends advocate for the use of essential oils. However, when you delve into the bioscience of essential oils for skincare products, they are unfortunately not miracle cures for perfect skin.
In microbiome science, maintaining balance and diversity of microorganisms is key. When used correctly, essential oils can help reduce inflammation, irritation and scarring, enhance the skin’s protective barrier, stimulate blood flow, improve skin elasticity and regulate sebum production for oily skin types.
However, essential oils are potent plant extracts. Without careful moderation and education, they can cause contact dermatitis, irritation, allergic reactions, increased photosensitivity, dryness and dehydration, disrupt the balance of beneficial fungi and skin pH, damage the skin’s protective barrier, interact poorly with other skincare products, destroy beneficial bacteria and even have a hormonal impact.
We therefore do not use essential oils in any of our products.
As a skincare brand and product developer, it’s essential we use the right ingredients in appropriate concentrations to meet our customers' specific skin needs. At Nu Allumé, our scientists are experts in chemistry and microbiology, combining decades of industry experience and global research. They select and test only the highest quality ingredients and are continually discovering microbiome innovations to guide optimal product development. They use next-generation DNA sequencing to analyse the skin microbiome and this information guides our product development.
In short, essential oils offer potential skincare benefits but carry considerable risks, especially to the skin’s microbiome. At Nu Allumé, we've chosen to exclude essential oils entirely, prioritising science-backed ingredients carefully selected by our microbiologists and chemists. Our evidence-based formulations ensure safety, efficacy, and healthy skin.
