Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
La

Lavender Oil

Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Essential oil with documented estrogenic activity (Henley 2007 NEJM). Not advised during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or before puberty. Linalool oxidation is also a common contact allergen.

What it does

Lavender oil is one of the more commonly used cosmetic essential oils. Henley 2007's NEJM case series clinically linked topical lavender + tea tree oil exposure to prepubertal gynecomastia in three boys, and demonstrated estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity for both oils in human cell lines — the mechanistic basis for the pregnancy and under-puberty contraindication. Separately, linalool (lavender's primary fragrance component) oxidizes into known contact allergens — older bottles are more allergenic and the ingredient is a top-10 culprit in dermatology patch-testing. Earlier consumer guidance that classified lavender as 'lower-risk than clary sage' predates the Henley evidence; Drop's stance now mirrors tea tree.

The evidence, graded

expert consensusTopical lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) carries documented estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity that has been clinically linked to prepubertal gynecomastia in case series. Pregnancy and under-puberty exposure should be avoided.Henley 2007 · New England Journal of Medicine ↗
moderateLinalool oxidizes on air exposure into hydroperoxides that are a frequent cause of fragrance contact allergy in patch-tested dermatitis patients.Bråred 2012 · Contact dermatitis ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

lavandula angustifolia oil, lavandula angustifolia, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower/leaf/stem extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract

Read more

How Drop works · 4 minNatural Ingredients Can Still Irritate Skin — and Often Do'Natural' tells you almost nothing about how skin tolerates an ingredient. Here is which natural ingredients are common irritants and why labels mislead.

Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.
See what Drop doesHow Drop works