🌿 When “Gentle” Isn’t Gentle: Why Plant-Based Skincare Can Still Irritate Sensitive Skin

We’ve all seen it: a product plastered with words like “natural,” “plant-based,” or even “dermatologist-recommended.” And if you have sensitive skin, eczema or rosacea, you might think, “Finally—something safe for me!” But here’s the truth: just because it sounds gentle doesn’t mean it is gentle.

Let’s talk about it.

🍃 The Plant-Based Myth

Plant-based skincare is trending—and not without good reason. Many botanical ingredients are full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and skin-loving nutrients. But here’s the catch: plants can also be allergens. For those of us with sensitive skin, too many plant extracts (or even the wrong ones) can trigger redness, irritation, or a full-blown flare-up.

So when our founder, May A., got an email from her dermatologist recommending several “gentle” plant-based skincare products, her curiosity was piqued. But as someone who’s actually allergic to many plants (and who’s had years of trial-and-error with reactive skin), she dug into the ingredients—and what she found might surprise you.

🔍 Let’s Break Down the Ingredient Lists (No Brand Names Here—Just Facts)

Foaming Cleanser
Boasts: Vitamins A, C, E, green tea, white tea, CoQ10, caffeine.
👀 May’s take: Green tea? Anti-inflammatory on paper. But for sensitive skin, it can be harsh—especially in a foaming format. May even had digestive issues when drinking it. Intuition matters!

“Calm + Correct” Serum
Ingredient overload: 34 total, with a buffet of plant extracts like thyme, elderberry, echinacea, mushroom, and more.
👀 May’s take: That many plant extracts? A nightmare for sensitive skin. And there it is—phenoxyethanol tucked in at the end. Not ideal.

Hydrating Tinted Sunscreen
Loaded with silicones, PEGs, and—you guessed it—phenoxyethanol.
👀 May’s take: Not exactly the kind of sunscreen your sensitive skin wants to wear every day.

“Gentle” Cleansing Lotion
A 30-ingredient list starring red, brown, and green algae, lavender, and yes, phenoxyethanol again.
👀 May’s take: Too many extras. Sensitive skin loves simplicity—not complexity.

“Dermatologist-Recommended” Cleanser
Features surfactants like cocamidopropyl betaine (an EWG 1–5 irritant), plus fragrance, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and artificial dyes.
👀 May’s take: Fragrance + dye + preservatives = the opposite of gentle. Dermatologists, we love you, but come on.

SPF for “Sensitive” Skin
Main player: Octinoxate (EWG rating 7). Known for hormone disruption in lab animals. Also contains phenoxyethanol.
👀 May’s take: If you’ve got sensitive skin and are cautious about hormone health, this one’s a skip.

🧴 Why Dermagrace Skincare Is Different

At Dermagrace, we believe in transparency and simplicity. We don’t load our products with dozens of ingredients just to check trendy boxes. Every ingredient has a reason—and if it’s not gentle, it doesn’t make the cut.

Our cofounder, May, formulated our Delicate Cleanser and Delicate Moisturizer from scratch because of years of frustration with so-called “gentle” products that made things worse. No harsh preservatives, no fragrance, no questionable actives—just results that your skin will love.

💡 The Takeaway

Just because a product says “plant-based” or comes recommended by a professional doesn’t mean it’s safe for sensitive skin. Always read the ingredient list. Simpler is usually better.

And if you’ve ever been burned (literally or figuratively) by a product that promised calm but delivered chaos—you're not alone.

Ready to finally feel good in your skin? Check out the Dermagrace difference.

👉 Explore Our Delicate Formulas

Back to blog