Comedian's Tweet Sparks Panic Over Spider-Attracting Body Butter

Over the holiday break, while many were relaxing on their couches, a controversy was brewing in the beauty community. Comedian Samantha Ruddy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share some alarming claims about a popular product. It all started with two screenshots from Sephora's website review section, suggesting that the new Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter attracts spiders. The internet went into a frenzy.

Wolf Spiders and Panic Ensue

For those unfamiliar with wolf spiders (they're horrifying), it's easy to understand why people were alarmed. The comments on Ruddy's post quickly became more panicked, with users expressing their disgust and even joking about giving the product as a gift to someone they dislike.

Investigating the Claims

As the panic escalated, Redditors decided to dig deeper into the claims. Even cosmetic chemist Javon Ford stepped in to shed some light on the situation. Let's take a look at the timeline of events.

Dec. 24, 2023: Customer Claims the Delícia Drench Body Butter Attracts Spiders

Under the one-star reviews on Sephora's website, a customer claimed that the body butter attracts wolf spiders. The review mentioned an ingredient that seems to repel these creepy crawlers, causing them to appear when the product is applied.

Dec. 27, 2023: An Informal Investigation into the Ingredients Begins

A Reddit user named Marchingkoala took matters into their own hands and researched cosmetic ingredients that attract spiders. They found a study that discussed certain chemicals found in spider webs that attract males. However, it's important to note that the study referred to skull spiders, not wolf spiders.

Dec. 29, 2023: A Cosmetic Chemist Weighs In

Javon Ford clarified that the study mentioned by Marchingkoala was not about wolf spiders. He also explained that the specific ingredients called out in the review must be combined in a specific ratio to attract spiders, which is unclear from the body butter's ingredient list. Ford also suggested that the original reviewer may have a spider problem rather than the cream itself attracting the animals.

Dec. 30, 2023: Sol de Janeiro Responds to Spider Claims

After days of chaos, Sol de Janeiro addressed the spider claims on their Instagram Stories. They assured customers that their products, including the Delícia Drench Body Butter, do not contain the chemicals mentioned in the study and therefore won't attract arachnids.

Redditor Clarifies Statement

The Redditor who initially brought attention to the spider claims clarified that they do not know if the body butter contains the specific chemicals mentioned. They explained that as consumers, they don't have access to the full ingredient list, particularly the "fragrance" part. Therefore, it's uncertain whether the cream actually contains the spider-attracting chemicals.

Lessons Learned: Be Wary of Internet Claims

This spider drama serves as a reminder not to trust unsubstantiated claims from the internet. It's essential to verify information before panicking or spreading false information. In this case, the beauty community can rest assured that the Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter is not a magnet for spiders.