Important health and safety information for making your own homemade natural hair and beauty products

  • Check that you or the person you are creating the product for does not have any allergies to any of the ingredients e.g. nuts, wheat, citrus etc
  • If the person has sensitive skin and/or a history of allergic reactions, make a small amount of your intended product, carry out a patch test by applying a small amount of the product to the inside of their elbow or wrist.  Leave for 24 hours and then check.
  • In the case of allergic reaction, wash the skin with clean warm water and seek medical attention.
  • Store ingredients in a cool, dark storage away from children
  • Detailed Material Safety data for spillage on skin and surface areas, ingestion and inhalation is available on request
  • When creating products, maintain good personal hygiene, use sterile equipment and ensure that your workspace is clean and clutter free.

Essential Oil and Fragrance oil General Safety

  • Never use E.O's or FO's near or in eyes.  In the case of an accident, flush the eye with full fat milk and seek medical attention.
  • Never take E.O's or FO's internally
  • Always dilute your oils by mixing them in the appropriate % with a carrier product.  Wear protective gloves when dispensing to avoid neat contact with the skin.
  • Assess suitability of E.O for each individual i.e. check that it is safe to use based on any existing health conditions or given the fact that they are children/babies, pregnant, have sensitive skin etc
  • Always adhere to recommended dosages paying attention to age of user, skin sensitivity and any existing health conditions

Essential oil dosage:

Body and Bath products

Facial skin products

Adults & teenagers 13+: (unless pregnant)

up to 2.5%

1.25%

Pregnant women, Sensitive skin, Elderly and those who are less mobile

1 to 1.5%

0.5 -0.75%

Babies:

0.5%

0.25%

Infants 1-5 years of age:

1%

0.5%

Children 6-12 years:

1.25%

0.625%
  • For cosmetic grade fragrance oils, use 1-2% for body and bath soak products, up to 5% for wash off products (e.g soap, shower gel).  They are not suitable for use in products for children under the age of 13.
  • Keep out of the reach of children, pets and anyone with special needs.  Always ensure that the dropper is in place as this acts as a protective guard in the unlikely event that it is accidentally consumed.
  • If the oils are accidentally consumed drink full fat milk and seek medical attention.
  • Avoid spillage of neat essential oils on plastic or polished surfaces
  • E.O's and FO's are highly flammable and so must be stored away from heat sources in cool, dark conditions.
  • If you are unsure whether an essential oil or blend is suitable for use - do not use it! Purchase aromatherapy literature or seek the advice of a professional aromatherapist.

 Essential Oils and Other Ingredients Contraindications

DO NOT USE

 

  Various

Coltsfoot: Pregnancy or Lactation

Nettle: Water retention due to impaired cardiac or kidney function, high blood pressure or diabetes

Horsetail Powder: Water retention due to impaired cardiac or kidney function

Seaweed Iodine allergy or intolerance due to Thyroid conditions

Oils or Butters containing Ingredients you may be allergic to (Nut or Wheat allergies)

Dried Calendula, Lavender, Rose: Pregnancy, Lactation

Hibiscus: Pregnancy

Fenugreek (Methi): Pregnancy, Diabetes (lowers blood pressure)

Irish Moss: Chron's Disease and those taking Blood Thinners

Cassia: Pregnancy and Lactation

Henna: G6DP Deficiency (Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, Extreme Anemia, Hyperbilirubinemia, Any chronic or acute condition affecting your blood system or immune
system, High Risk pregnancy please check with your GP or Nurse, Highly allergic skin carry out a test patch for 24 hrs on the inside of your elbow or behind your ear.

Banned Essential oils

Tagetes oil & absolute Tagetes minuta, Rue oil, Calamus, Inula Graveolens, Wormseed, Cade oil, , Costus root , , Elecampane oil, Fig leaf absolute   Horseradish oil ,  Mustard oil black mustard ,Peru balsam, Savin ,Verbena, Tea absolute   Sassafras oil ,  Stryax gum, Wormseed (also called Epazote or Mexican Tea) Wormwood oil Bitter Almond, Boldo, Camphor, Cassia, Mugwort, Pennyroyal, Tansy, Thuja, Wintergreen

Insufficient Safety Test Data at present

Manuka, Ravensara, Niaouli, Catnip, Spikenard, Tansy, Yarrow

Essential oils which are toxic on prolonged use

(apply for 2 wks max)

Ajowan, Anise Star, Aniseed, Sweet/Exotic Basil, Bay Laurel, West Indian Bay, Calamintha, White Camphor, Cascarilla Bark, Cassie, Cedarwood (Virginian), Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Sweet Fennel, Hops, Hyssop, Juniper, Nutmeg, Parsley, Black Pepper, Spanish Sage, Tagetes, Tarragon, White Thyme, Tuberose, Turmeric, Turpentine and Valerian. 

 

Sensitisation

Not suitable for sensitive skins, use in very low 0.5% and carry out a test patch if you wish to use

French Basil, Bay Laurel, Benzoin, Black Pepper, Cade, Cananga, Copaiba, Virginian Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon Bark, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Hops, Jasmine, Lemon, Lemongrass, Litsea Cuba, Lovage, Mastic, Mint, Oakmoss, Orange, Peppermint, Pimento Berrry,  Pine (Scotch and Longleaf), Styrax, Tea Tree, Tree Moss,  White Thyme, Tolu Balsam, Turmeric, Turpentine, Valerian, Vanilla, Verbena (not recommended for skin use), Violet, Yarrow and Ylang Ylang.

 

Contact dermatitis

Ajowan, Allspice, Sweet Basil, Black Pepper, Borneol, Cajeput, Caraway, Virginian Cedarwood, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Cornmint, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Ginger, Lemon, Parsley, Peppermint, Pine Needle (Scotch and Longleaf), White Thyme and Turmeric.

Damaged skin (inc eczema and psoriasis)

Anise, Citronella, Clove, Lemon gum, Laurel, Lemongrass, May chang, Melissa, Oregano, Star Anise, Thyme

 

Photosensitisation

Do not use prior to exposure to strong UV light, natural or sunbed

Cumin oil , Ruta graveolens, Angelica root, Bergamot oil (not FCF), Bitter & Sweet Orange oil ,Grapefruit, Lemon oil, Lime oil, Mandarin, Tangerine

 

Pregnancy

Essential oils that should be avoided in pregnancy include

Ajowan, Angelica, Anise Star, Aniseed, Basil, Bay Laurel, Calamintha, Carrot Seed, Cedarwood, Celery Seed, Chamomile, Cinnamon leaf, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Cumin, Eucalyptus, Sweet Fennel, Ginger,  Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper, Labdanum, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lovage, Marjoram, Melissa, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Oregano, Origanum, Parsley Seed, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Snakeroot, Spanish Sage, Tarragon and White Thyme. 

In addition, Lavender and Rosemary are also best avoided during the first trimester.

High Blood Pressure

Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme.

Low Blood Pressure

Calamus, Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Lavender, Marjoram, Tagetes, Carrot oil, Melissa or Ylang Ylang. Peppermint, Rosewood

Cancer

Anise, Aniseed, Basil, Bay, Cinnamon, Fennel (bitter & sweet), Ho Leaf, Laurel, Myrtle, Nutmeg and Star Anise.

Oestrogen-dependent cancers

Anise, Fennel, Star Anise, lemongrass, Melissa, Verbena, Citronella, Eucalyptus

 

Skin Cancer and Melanomas

 Bergamot and all Phototoxic oils

Epilepsy

Balsamite, White Camphor, Cedarwood, Sweet Fennel, Hyssop, Peppermint, Rosemary, all types of Sage, Tea Tree or any strong-smelling oil. As strong smells can trigger seizures, it would be wise to avoid the Eucalyptus oils, high menthol chemotypes Peppermint, Spearmint, camphor chemotypes Rosemary, Lavendin, Hyssop, Sage, Camphor, Fennel and other strong fragrances in excess of 0.5%.

Autism

Check for sensitivity to strong smells

Asthma/Allergies

Check for sensitivity to essential oils

Glaucoma

Lemongrass, Melissa or Styrax

Renal disease

Bay, Clove, Cinnamon, Indian Dill, Juniper, Parsley Leaf/Seed or Black Pepper

Cardiac

Nutmeg and Peppermint

Diabetes

Angelica

Liver disease

Anise, Aniseed,  Basil, Bay , Cinnamon Leaf, Clove, Star Anise, Indian Dill, Fennel, Parsley Leaf/Seed, Tarragon

Prostatic hyperplasia

Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, 
Melissa or Styrax.

Those clients suffering from acute lung or respiratory 

Garlic, Onion and Sage.

 

Clients receiving homeopathic treatments

Black Pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Rosemary

On Warfarin medication

Sweet Birch


NB EU regulations require all finished cosmetic products to undergo an external Safety Assessment prior to selling them to the general public.   If you wish to create and sell your own beauty and holistic products, please contact your nearest Trading Standards or the Department  for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for futher advice and information http://www.berr.gov.uk/


DISCLAIMER - The above information is provided as a guide only.  Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the above information is accurate and up to date, neither Zoe Penny nor Revive Holistic & Beauty Therapies accept liability in respect of any omission or error in the information provided.  The purchaser should always satisfy her/himself as to the ultimate suitability and safety for an intended application. Revive Holistic and Beauty Therapies accept no liability in the unlikely event of an adverse reaction occurring when using one of its products.  Some products or ingredients, even natural ones, can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Always try a test patch or discontinue use of any product or ingredient suspected to cause a problem. You should consult your physician or appropriate medical reference for any advice regarding specific health concerns or treatments.

The information provided is for informational purposes, does not include all available sources, and is not intended to be a prescriptive or medical guide. No liability is accepted in respect of any reputed therapeutic characteristic. The liability of Revive Holistic & Beauty Therapies is limited to the value of the goods and does not include any consequential loss. Revive Holistic & Beauty Therapies shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Revive Holistic & Beauty Therapies shall not be responsible for any damages resulting from use of or reliance upon this information. The user of the product is solely responsible for compliance with all laws and regulations applying to the use of the products, including intellectual property rights of third parties. Keep all products and ingredients out of eyes and away from children's reach.