Ingredient Library
Bergamot
Citrus bergamia
Bergamot is a fresh citrus oil that balances and refreshes while lending an uplifting scent. We use a phototoxic-free form that suits combination and oily skin.
A natural history
Bergamot is a fragrant little citrus grown almost entirely along one sun warmed stretch of the Calabrian coast, in the far south of Italy. Its aroma is one of the most beloved in the world, even if many do not know its name: bergamot oil is what gives Earl Grey tea its signature perfume, and it was a foundational note of the original eau de cologne.
That bright, floral citrus scent has graced perfume bottles and tea cups for centuries, a small fruit with an outsized place in the history of fragrance. Pressed from the peel, its golden oil carries the aromatic compounds linalool and limonene, the soul of its elegant, uplifting character.
What it does for your skin
Bergamot peel oil is a bright, aromatic citrus rich in fragrant antioxidant compounds. Analysis confirms it is led by linalool, linalyl acetate, and limonene, the molecules behind its fresh, floral citrus signature.[1] Its natural compounds show antioxidant and soothing activity in testing.[2] In a formula it lends an elegant, uplifting, refreshing character to dull or stressed looking skin. Because raw bergamot can heighten sun sensitivity, skin care uses a bergapten-free grade.
References
[1] Cebi N, Erarslan A. Determination of the antifungal, antibacterial activity and volatile compound composition of Citrus bergamia peel essential oil. Foods. 2023;12(1):203. doi:10.3390/foods12010203
[2] Liang Y, et al. Bergapten: a review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. Phytother Res. 2021;35(11):6131-6147. doi:10.1002/ptr.7221
Found in these formulas
Questions, answered
It is a bright, aromatic citrus oil rich in antioxidant compounds, used to lend dull or stressed-looking skin a fresh, elegant, uplifting character.
Raw bergamot peel oil can make skin more sensitive to sun, so quality skincare uses a bergapten-free grade that keeps the lovely scent without that concern.