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Fragrance free, acne, and me
A thread.
I often mention when skincare is fragrance free.
It’s really subjective but,
Today I thought we’d talk about why that is - for reference I have hayfever, a nut allergy, and what my facialist once referred to as a “pale, allergic skin type”
A thread.
I often mention when skincare is fragrance free.
It’s really subjective but,
Today I thought we’d talk about why that is - for reference I have hayfever, a nut allergy, and what my facialist once referred to as a “pale, allergic skin type”
Housekeeping - please see a doctor if you’re experiencing or suspect a reaction,
and do not seek medical advice on the internet
and do not seek medical advice on the internet
We know that inflammation is involved in acne (and rosacea, and eczema...) and we know that added fragrance is a common irritant
So to me it’s a sensible place to look/cut back if my skin is acting up.
My skin is much more manageable since I started looking out for it in 2018
So to me it’s a sensible place to look/cut back if my skin is acting up.
My skin is much more manageable since I started looking out for it in 2018
In the United States, as many as 20% of the population can experience contact dermatitis from fragrance (Warshaw et al, 2013)
It also tends to not really serve a beneficial purpose for skin...
(there are exceptions - some enjoy an *experience* as motivation, I can relate)
It also tends to not really serve a beneficial purpose for skin...
(there are exceptions - some enjoy an *experience* as motivation, I can relate)
You could also light a candle instead, or (like me) come to enjoy a weird smell as part of the process.
Lotion P50 anyone?
I find a weird smell comforting - that there’s one less thing to worry about.
If your skin flares up sometimes then you know what I mean!
Lotion P50 anyone?
I find a weird smell comforting - that there’s one less thing to worry about.
If your skin flares up sometimes then you know what I mean!
Some ingredients to look out for if you want to avoid fragrance (not exhaustive)
Essential oils - any
citrus, clove, peppermint, rose, geranium, lavender
“fragrance”
“natural fragrance”
“parfum”
Anything on the list below,
Essential oils - any
citrus, clove, peppermint, rose, geranium, lavender“fragrance”
“natural fragrance”
“parfum”
Anything on the list below,
Also sometimes products say “fragrance free” but contain an extract like “lavender flower water” or “lavender extract”
If it says “free from synthetic fragrance” it usually has essential oils or “natural fragrance” so be sure to double check there.
If it says “free from synthetic fragrance” it usually has essential oils or “natural fragrance” so be sure to double check there.
Side note - synthetic does not mean bad... synthetic chemistry is our friend.
You would rather take an aspirin than chew willow bark for a headache right?
It is thanks to chemistry that you have this option
You would rather take an aspirin than chew willow bark for a headache right?
It is thanks to chemistry that you have this option
Brands I trust to be completely fragrance free;
@deciem @PaulasChoice @theinkeylist @mydrunkelephant @kravebeautyinc @cerave
If you aren’t sure, try copy pasting an ingredient list into @INCIDecoder - it’s a good place to start. NOT EWG.
@deciem @PaulasChoice @theinkeylist @mydrunkelephant @kravebeautyinc @cerave
If you aren’t sure, try copy pasting an ingredient list into @INCIDecoder - it’s a good place to start. NOT EWG.
In conclusion,
Skincare and makeup that smell nice are great if you can tolerate, but it’s OK if you can’t.
It’s also OK to tolerate some fragrant ingredients and not others, or to tolerate fragrance in one category (like sunscreen) but not another (like cleanser). Nuance.
Skincare and makeup that smell nice are great if you can tolerate, but it’s OK if you can’t.
It’s also OK to tolerate some fragrant ingredients and not others, or to tolerate fragrance in one category (like sunscreen) but not another (like cleanser). Nuance.
