The smell of freshly ground coffee or the aroma of essential oil is quite the temptress, invigorating a profound sensorial experience. For the likes of some, fragrance in body lotion or moisturiser is quite the allure. However, with the growing number of naysayers and 39.5 billion #fragrancefreeskincare hashtags on Tik Tok, fragrance in skincare takes a controversial route. Should you buy products with fragrance or not?
Research indicates that it’s always better to use skincare products that are free of fragrances. Especially for people with sensitive skin and with winter onboard, it’s best to ditch fragrance and stock up on essentials that are scent-free. It’s time to put your skin ahead of your sensory pleasures of smell. It’s time to ditch fragrance, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Why stay away from fragrances in skincare?
Fragrances are uninvited allergens or irritants that are smartly infused in beauty products by brands to entice customers. But, supplementing skincare products with sweet-smelling ingredients is known to trigger negative reactions on the skin. For most beauty products, the label does not mention the exact ingredients but gets away by mentioning “parfum” or “fragrance”. This makes it difficult for users to decode the kind of fragrance used and if one is allergic to the same.
For starters, the fragrances commonly used in cosmetics like cinnamal, limonene, linalool etc. disrupt the skin barrier. People with sensitive skin are more prone to the perils of fragrances causing redness, sensitivity, and dry skin. Continued use of fragrance-rich products further damages the skin barrier making an easy passage for penetration of irritants and foreign particles. But, for some people fragrances has no impact and the skin seems to be breathing just fine.
Reasons for using fragrances in skincare
If it’s creating havoc for people with sensitive skin, and the count for #fragrancefreeskincare on social media is forever increasing, why do brands continue using fragrances? It’s a cover-up to shadow the smell of primary ingredients in a formulation.
Sometimes a product smells odd because of its ingredients and adding the fragrance is a way to mask the original smell. People often are skeptical about purchasing products that have a weird smell, making fragrances quite prominent in cosmetics.
Is it time to ditch fragrance and just opt for unscented products?
Yes, for the majority of the part, it is a yes. Why layer your skin with artificial fragrances with a tendency to disrupt the skin when you have the choice to pick fragrance-free products? For someone with dry and sensitive skin, fragrance should be a complete no. Sensitive skin is easily triggered as it compromises the epidermal barrier. It stresses out the skin causing irritation, itching, and inflammation and might also in the worst cases trigger migraine.
With winters around the corner, the dryness and dip in humidity further aggravate skin issues. Dryness, flaking and stretchy skin teamed with fragrance is bad news. As per experts, it is deeply recommended to keep away from fragrance-rich cosmetic products. However, just because a product is fragranced doesn’t discredit its effectiveness because not everyone is sensitive to infused fragrances.
Top recommendations for fragrance-free skincare products
The rich cream is enriched with the goodness of calendula and oatmeal that heals dry skin and soothes irritated skin. Shea butter makes it a nourishing potion that locks in moisture. The non-greasy cream provides deep hydration for hours.
Dear, Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
The facial toner is crafted for people who are allergic to scented products. The goodness of hyaluronic acid, Centella Asiatica, and glucan minus the essential oils restore the skin. It helps in balancing the pH level of the skin making it a suitable choice for extremely sensitive skin.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Undoubtedly, one of the most loved and powerful serums is the snail mucin by COSRX. With 92% snail mucin filtrate, it is the ultimate dose of hydration for the skin. The snail mucin repairs dry patches reduces hyperpigmentation, improves skin elasticity, and maintains an optimum hydration level.
Put Simply Get Your Greens Cleanser with Mugwort, Cica, & Green Tea
The hydrating cleanser is suitable for all types of skin and its natural ingredients gently remove dirt and grime from the face. It strengthens the skin barrier and maintains the pH of the skin. Enriched with antioxidant-rich plant ingredients, it cleanses pores and deeply hydrates skin to maintain skin elasticity.
