Some of the ingredients added to food, cosmetics and personal care products can be derived from either natural or synthetic soures. Often the natural version is safe, while the synthetic version is associated with numerous side effects.
Benzyl Benzoate is one of those.
Benzyl Benzoate is a natural component of cinnamon essential oil. It composes about 3% of the oil. Cinnamon essential oil has therapeutic benefit and when used in small amounts is safe.
Generally the amounts of essential oils used in cosmetics and personal care products is so small that you don't have to be concerned with any precautions associated with the essential oil. If you use individual essential oils, you need to be informed about precautions, contraindications and safe use of the oils.
The synthetic version, on the other hand is the chemical used to kill head lice and is associated with a variety of adverse effects, including burning and itching of the skin, formation of blisters, reddening, crusting or scaling of the skin, jerking movements, difficulty urinating or sudden loss of consciousness.
When you see benzyl benzoate listed as an ingredient in a product in which you're interested, if it does not specify that it is from cinnamon essential oil, you should either contact the manufacturer to find out the source of the benzyl benzoate or not buy the product.
Learn more about ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.
About Me
- Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C.
- Dr. Christine H. Farlow is "The Ingredients Investigator." She is a Doctor of Chiropractic who has helped thousands improve their health through nutrition and the elimination of harmful ingredients from food, cosmetics and personal care products. She's a veteran at helping people solve their health challenges naturally, without the use of drugs. The study of nutrition has been a passion for Dr. Farlow since 1975. Before becoming a doctor, people were coming to her unsolicited, asking for nutritional advice. She’s been counseling patients professionally since 1984 and researching ingredients in foods, cosmetics and personal care products since 1991. Dr. Farlow is the author of three health and nutrition books: FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide... HEALTHY EATING: For Extremely Busy People... DYING TO LOOK GOOD Her books evolved out of her experience counseling patients back to health and wellness.