Hello, ZO Skin Health, I have heard and read about some of your products but also experience allergies to many skin care products. Can you tell me whether I will experience an allergic response? Particularly, I am interested in the Ossential™ Growth Factor Serum and the Oclipse™ sunscreen. – Leigh

Hi, Leigh–
Skin was created to protect our bodies from outside insults and contaminants. So an allergic response—redness, irritation, itching— is just your body’s way to trying to protect you from exposure to something that it perceives as "dangerous". Of course, it’s generally just a false alarm—there’s nothing harmful about the products. But we can’t convince your skin of that.

So let’s figure out the best way to deal with it.

Skin sensitivity is frequently a good indication that the skin’s barrier function is weak. By strengthening your skin (which is the basis of my skincare philosophy), you will reduce this sensitivity.

People generally are not allergic to just one ingredient or substance. Since I have no way of knowing what ingredients you may be allergic to, I have no way of predicting. But you can do a patch test. Put a little dab on the inside of your arm (right inside the crease opposite your elbow or on your wrist’s "pulse points"). The skin is thin and delicate there. Sleep with it on overnight. If you wake with redness or irritation, you’re allergic to it.

Also, look our for ingredients that frequently cause irritation—like fragrance, preservatives, Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, phytic acid, citric acid), Avobenzone, lactic acid, vitamin C. Unfortunately, these same ingredients are also some of the most effective. So if we eliminated all of them, we’d be left with a product that pretty much does nothing. Fragrance, by the way, is frequently added (in my products, at least) to mask an odor that might otherwise be objectionable. Retinol, for example, has a very chemical smell, so we add fragrance to hide the odor.

One more thing... If you’re concerned about allergies, ask us for a free sample (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ask at one of the Nordstrom stores listed on the website). If you’re going to experience a reaction, it’s likely that it will appear within 24-48 hours.

Thanks for your input.