Last Updated on August 5, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Here’s why I don’t like the “natural = good, chemical/synthetic = bad” nonsense. If I say bisabolol, what does that make you think? “Ugh, it sounds like a chemical. Will it kill me?!” But, what if I say chamomile instead? “Oh, that’s one of the best natural remedies. Sooo soothing.”
It is soothing. Thanks to Bisabolol. It’s this little chemical that makes chamomile the gentle natural remedy we all know and love (and yes, chamomile – just like everything else – is made of chemicals. Shocking, I know…). Here’s everything you need to know about Bisabolol:
What Is Bisabolol?
A colourless and thick oily liquidy, Bisabolol is one of the major components of the essential oil made from the German chamomile plant. But, it can be made synthetically in a lab, too. There are two forms of Bisabolol:
- Beta-Bisabolol: It’s found in cotton and corn.
- Alpha-Bisabolol: The type used in skincare, it’s found in several plants, including chamomile and tea.
Here’s where it gets interesting: not all Alpha-Bisabolol is equal. Natural Alpha-Bisabolol (the kind pulled from chamomile or the candeia tree) is almost entirely the active form that actually calms your skin. Synthetic Alpha-Bisabolol, on the other hand, has only 50% of the activity of the natural version. Guess which one is better for skin? And nope, the ingredient list won’t tell you which one the brand is using.
In case you’re wondering why anyone would go synthetic, sustainability. Overharvesting the candeia tree in Brazil has caused deforestation and pushed the tree toward endangered status, so synthetic Bisabolol sidesteps that problem entirely.Â
Related: The Complete Guide To Chamomile In Skincare: Who You Should Use It And Who Should Stay Away
Struggling to find skincare products that don’t irritate your skin? Download your FREE “Skincare Ingredients To Avoid” cheat sheet to find out the most common culprits to remove from your skincare routine:
What Are The Skincare Benefits Of Bisabolol?
Bisabolol is a multi-tasker. Here are all the ways it benefits your skin:
1. Bisabolol Is Soothing
You already know that Bisabolol has soothing properties. But, how does it work? A 2014 study discovered that Bisabolol inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. the molecules associated with inflammation. Inhibit the activities of these molecules and you reduce both irritation and inflammation.
What this means for you: if you have sensitive skin, this helps calm down any redness and irritation you may be experiencing. Even if your skin isn’t noticeably irritated, pollution, unprotected sun exposure, processed foods and all that jazz can cause inflammation beneath the skin. You don’t see it, but it contributes to the formation of wrinkles and dark spots. Bisabolol helps quench it before it does too much damage.
Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients To Calm Down Irritated Skin
2. Bisabolol May Help Fade Away Dark Spots
A 2010 study suggests that Bisabolol may help fade away dark spots by inhibiting melanin synthesis. Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its natural beautiful colour. But, out-of-whack hormones and excessive sun exposure can trigger the overproduction of melanin in certain areas. Hello, dark spots!
They’re not the only culprits, by the way. Inflammatory skin disorders, like eczema and contact dermatitis, can give you dark spots, too. You already know how awesome Bisabolol is at treating inflammation, so it’s no wonder researchers tested it as a hyperpigmentation remedy, too.
They asked 28 women to apply a cream with alpha-bisabolol to their skin for 8 weeks as well as a control cream without it. The results? “After 8 weeks of treatment of the alpha-bisabolol-containing cream, there was significant lightening effect in the pigmented skin for the majority of the subjects who tested the cream.“
I wouldn’t switch from Alpha-Arbutin yet (one of the most powerful skin-lighteners out there), especially because I have yet to see a cream with enough Bisabolol to do the trick. But, it’s good to know it helps.
Related: The Battle Of The Skin-Lighteners: What Is The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?
3. Bisabolol Has Antimicrobial Properties
Bisabolol has anti-microbial properties that kill certain strains of fungi and bacteria. This is just another way it helps to both prevent and treat skin infections. Plus, it may also kill the odd bacteria that finds its way into your skincare products, helping them last longer. Before you get too excited, it’s not a valid alternative to parabens or other preservatives. But hey, every little bit helps.
Related: Parabens Alternatives: Which Ones Are Safe AND Effective?
4. Bisabolol Makes Your Skincare Products Smell Good
Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent with whiffs of spice and citrus. Does it sound divine? Perfumers think so, too. They use Bisabolol as a fragrance ingredient to make your skincare products smell amazing.
Related: Is Fragrance In Skincare As Bad As Paula Begoun Says?
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Bisabolol?
- Niod Modulating Glucosides (£27.00): It relieves sunburns and irritations. Available at Brown Thomas, Look Fantastic, Niod, and Selfridges
- Paula’s Choice Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($39.00): My fave mineral sunscreen, it’s super lightweight and doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind. It’s suitable even for oily skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
- Peter Thomas Roth Night Infusion PM ($65.00): 1.5% retinol release gradually over a period of several hours to make it gentler on your skin. Has a moisturising squalane base and its fair share of antioxidants. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Peter Thomas Roth, Revolve, and Ulta
Is Bisabolol In Skincare Safe?
Allergies to Bisabolol can happen, but they’re rare. For most people, Bisabolol is totally safe. If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test to be one the safe side.
The Bottom Line
Bisabolol is the little chemical that gives chamomile its soothing properties. While it’s at it, it also helps fade away dark spots, kill bacteria, and make products smell good – without irritating skin.
Funny word. So is there any way to know if it’s natural or synthetic on the ingredients list? That goes for any natural and artificially-made same ingredient.
Anything else you’d like for the holidays? You can just list a bunch of things and I’ll pick from there. If not, I’ll surprise you but a place to start is always helpful.
All you do for me and helped me is worth more than little packages. You deserve every bit of them :]. I’m good to people I respect and well, I look up to you!
Janessa, unfortunately no. Most ingredients are artificially-made even when they can be derived from plants because it costs less so I always assume that’s their origin unless otherwise stated. Only some organic brands sometimes add the source on the ingredient list. For instance you can find on the label, Glycerin (from vegetable source).
Oh dear, there are so many things I’d like from the States, but I wouldn’t wanna be greedy. But if you really need a place to start, some Bath & Body Works and Wet n Wild stuff is always appreciated. 😉
Aww thank you! You’re always so nice. I’m glad I can give you something back too. 🙂
You mentioned that, in “rare” cases…an allergy could develop from the use of Bisabolol…… could be a little more specific, an give an idea at least.. of what kind of allergy “could” develop?? I only look this up because it’s in the toothpaste we’re using (from Natures Gate), and it’s an ingredient that i’m not familiar with.
Also, I appreciate your comment in regards to organic -vs- synthetic (mfg’d) compounds…which of course (in terms of “vitamins”) is NEVER healthy for our bodies… and in fact, can & do… produce il-health… even fatal.
Thank You for your site, information and time….
Have a Wonderful and Blessed day.
Sincerely,
Jim
Jim, allergies develop when the immune system has an exaggerated reaction to a substance it has come in contact with. And when that happens, it causes rushes, itching, swelling.. This reaction is called exaggerated because it doesn’t cause any side effects in the vast majority of people that is exposed to it. Pretty much any substance you come in contact with could potentially cause an allergic reaction, but it’s rare that any do. If you’ve been using a substance without experiencing any side effects, then there is no reason to stop.
And thank you for your nice wishes. Have a wonderful day!
I had an allergic reaction to this toothpaste, which lead me here because of the ingredient bisabolol and not knowing what it was. My mouth and tongue are swollen, I can only guess it is hives in my mouth.
I have been told I am allergic to laytex after breaking out in hives from make up and shampoos on different occasions.
I am curious if bisabolol is the culprit of the hives given my past reactions and the fact that it is added to cosmetics and other things. And maybe I’m not allergic to laytex at all.
Amanda, I’m sorry to hear about your allergy. Were you ever tested for laytex? If not, then bisabolol may be the culprit. But the only way to know for sure is to have tests done.
I’m allergic to plants in the aster family – ragweed, chicory and chamomille. I just had yet another bad reaction to something, had to research what bisabolol was and yep, it’s chamomille!
Laura, sorry to hear about your bad experience. It’s a shame this ingredient isn’t better known. It’d be easier to avoid for those allergic to it.
I too have been using a tooth paste from nature’s gate containing biasbolol. Loved it, but shortly after using it I developed a rash that started behind my ears and I noticed my glands in my throat were swollen. Still could not figure out what was causing it. I narrowed down any new products I was using, just this week, who would have thought my “natural” tooth paste would cause such an uncomfortable experience over the last 3 months. Stopped using the product 3 days ago and the rash is better already. I’ll let you know if I continue to improve our if I’m completely off base, but pretty sure I found the culprit.
Dragon Lady, that’s awful! I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately, natural products aren’t always better. Some natural ingredients are irritating or cause allergies too. But I hope you’ve managed to find the culprit. Please, keep me updated.
I used Fx Cover foundation which lists bisabol as the 1st ingredient. My nose became red and swollen and broke out probably because of the bisabol. Too bad since this foundation is listed as paraben-free, gluten-free, talc- free, fragrance-free, and mineral-oil-free.
Does anyone know of a medium-full coverage foundation that’s toxin-free and good for sensitive skin, especially rosacea?
Sara, I’m sorry the FX Cover foundation didn’t work for you? Have you tried mineral makeup? Those foundations usually contain just a bunch of ingredients and provide good coverage.
OMG – that explains why I had an issue with it, too! Ended up throwing it away. I have found mineral makeup to be the only thing I don’t have a reaction to!
I’m looking into buying products from Perfectly Posh, and Bisabolol is in most of the facial care items. I have reactions to chamomile in my bath products. Do you think a Bisabolol will give me similar reactions? And if I knew the source was natural or synthetic, would it make a difference?
Anna, it’s hard to tell but personally I wouldn’t risk it. Opting for bisabobol free products may be best for you.