Everything to Know About the Gentle Healing Ingredient Bisabolol

What Are the Benefits of Bisabolol?

1. Reduces Inflammation and Redness 

According to Quirke, bisabolol actively inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are key drivers of redness, swelling, and irritation. 

“This makes it particularly effective in calming skin after exfoliation, laser treatments, sun exposure, or in conditions like rosacea and dermatitis,” she says.

2. Soothes Sensitive and Reactive Skin 

The ingredient interacts with skin receptors directly, which “influences the skin’s stress response, helping to alleviate itching, stinging, and burning sensations,” the pro explains. “Bisabolol is especially beneficial in products designed for compromised, allergy-prone, or post-procedure skin.”

3. Supports Skin Barrier Repair 

Compromised skin barrier? This ingredient’s got you!

“Bisabolol helps reinforce the skin’s ability to retain moisture, reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and defend against environmental aggressors,” Quirke says.

4. Enhances Ingredient Penetration 

Bisabolol is a natural skin penetration enhancer.

“It modifies the skin’s lipid structure slightly to allow better delivery of active ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, or retinol,” Quirke shares. “It improves the overall efficacy of a formulation without compromising the barrier.”

5. Reduces Hyperpigmentation Risk Post-Treatment 

The multifaceted ingredient is great to have on hand following a trip to the surgeon or med spa. 

“Because it calms inflammation at a cellular level, bisabolol helps minimize the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH),” the expert explains. “This is particularly in deeper Fitzpatrick skin types after professional procedures.”

Are There Any Side Effects?

Luckily, bisabolol is known to be a generally safe and well-tolerated ingredient, even for those with sensitive, reactive, or compromised skin. 

“It has a long history of use in both pharmaceuticals and in skincare, and adverse reactions are rare,” Quirke says. “Since bisabolol is often derived from chamomile (or, the Candeia tree), those with known allergies should avoid use, especially in people with a history of botanical sensitivities. But overall, the ingredient is widely recognized as non-toxic, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing, with a strong safety profile.”

How to Incorporate Bisabolol Into Your Skincare Routine

Because bisabolol is gentle and designed for soothing, it’s recommended to apply it after a day out in the sun or when your skin is compromised in any way. The ingredient can only help you, not hurt you, so there’s no harm in applying it topically at any point in the day. Here are a few products we love that include the ingredient:

1. ​​BENEFIT COSMETICS The POREfessional: Pore Primer Mini

This cult-favorite product is not only lightweight and translucent, but it also quickly minimizes the appearance of pores and helps mattify shine. There’s a reason it’s been so popular for years. 

2. BYROE Fig Renewal Oil

Luxury packaging? Check. Decadent formula? Check. Lightweight and refreshing? Also check. Made of upcycled fresh figs, jojoba oil, and omega-rich superfoods, this bisabolol-infused, antioxidant-packed concoction revitalizes and nourishes your skin while absorbing effortlessly.

3. SUNDAY RILEY A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum

When we need a retinol that truly works overtime, we turn to this product. In addition to smoothing, refreshing, and decongesting the skin, this bad boy also helps repair sun damage. It doesn’t hurt that our IPSY community is obsessed with this formula too, with one commenter saying, “My skin feels smooth, soothed, and balanced, and looks clearer from acne blemishes.” Say less!

4. SKYN ICELAND Pure Cloud Cream

Lightweight, gentle, calming, and hydrating, this creamy product is everything your skin could want. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, the formula features a blend of arctic berries and peptides that helps amplify its efficacy. 

Bisabolol Burning Questions: FAQs

How Do I Know If My Skin Needs Bisabolol?

“If your skin ever feels tight, red, or reactive—especially after sun exposure—it’s probably craving something like bisabolol,” explains Seth Nelson, co-founder of SŌL LABS SPF. “It’s not just a soothing agent, it’s a biological signal reducer—meaning it helps calm the chemical messengers in your skin that trigger inflammation. Whether your skin is recovering from UV exposure, over-exfoliation, or you're just naturally sensitive, bisabolol helps bring it back into balance. Think of it as skin’s peacekeeper. It’s quiet, powerful, and incredibly effective at reducing visible distress.”

Is Bisabolol Good for Acne?

Nelson says that indeed, this powerful ingredient can be good for acne, but in a non-traditional way.

“Bisabolol isn’t salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide,” he shares. “It’s more like the acne support system your skin wishes it had. It’s antimicrobial, so it helps reduce the bacteria that can worsen breakouts. But more importantly, it’s anti-inflammatory. It calms the angry red aftermath of a breakout and supports healing without adding fuel to the fire. For anyone using actives to treat acne—especially drying or irritating ones—bisabolol is a smart companion that helps your skin tolerate those treatments better and recover faster.”

How Often Should I Use Bisabolol?

The great thing about this gentle ingredient is that your skin can’t really overdose on its use. In fact, Nelson says you can use it during both your a.m. and p.m. skincare routines. 

“It’s extremely well-tolerated, even for compromised or highly reactive skin,” he says. “In fact, the more consistent you are, the more cumulative the benefits become. Bisabolol also has a unique synergy with other actives: It enhances absorption, which means ingredients like niacinamide, zinc oxide, or hyaluronic acid work even harder for you. That’s why we include it in our formulations. It doesn’t just add benefit, it amplifies benefit.”

Is Bisabolol Safe?

To hammer home what we touched on above, Nelson says bisabolol is “extremely” safe.

“It’s a naturally occurring compound derived from chamomile, and it’s been used in medicine and cosmetics for over 50 years,” he shares. “It’s non-sensitizing, non-toxic, and biocompatible with virtually every skin type. What’s especially important in suncare is that it plays well with mineral filters like zinc oxide, so it makes those heavy-hitting protective ingredients more skin-friendly.”