Which cleansing oil is fragrance free?

What should you look for on the label?

Fragrance free cosmetics should contain no added fragrance ingredients, but they can still smell of their other ingredients. Unscented usually means there is no noticeable scent, not that fragrance ingredients are absent. An unscented label describes what you smell, which is a remarkably unhelpful answer to what you were trying to avoid.2

Read the ingredient list as well as the front label, especially if you already know an ingredient causes a reaction. Fragrance ingredients can appear by name or simply as "fragrance". For Bioderma, check the packaging you are buying: formulas in shops can differ from the latest version listed online.12

What does the Bioderma oil do?

Sensibio is a daily cleanser marketed for sensitive skin, adults and teens. Bioderma describes it as removing persistent makeup, including waterproof eye and lip makeup, daily sunscreen and impurities. The texture starts as oil and becomes a milky emulsion with water. Oil turning into milk is the useful part of the product theatre: the emulsion makes rinsing easier.1

A cleansing oil needs more than oil to wash away cleanly. Surfactants, the cleansing ingredients that connect oil with water, loosen oily dirt and allow it to rinse off. A cleanser's job is to remove makeup, sunscreen and dirt, not to make washing your face a scented event.3

How do you use it?

1. 1Put the Sensibio oil into your palm and apply it to dry skin.
2. 2Massage gently with your fingers using circular movements.
3. 3Add a little water to emulsify the oil, then continue the gentle massage.
4. 4Rinse thoroughly.

Bioderma directs morning and/or evening use on the face, eyes, lips and neckline. Makeup and sunscreen removal happen during cleansing; you do not need to wait weeks for that function. Avoid turning cleansing into repeated washing or scrubbing: excessive washing can remove the skin's protective oil film and leave skin dry and irritated.13

What if your skin is sensitive or you have eczema?

Fragrance can trigger eczema flares, so fragrance free skincare is the better choice for avoiding that trigger. Other ingredients can also cause reactions. Before using a new product across your face, test a quarter sized amount on the inside of your arm daily for 7 to 10 days. Follow the cleanser's rinsing directions during testing. If the area stays clear, proceed to facial use.14

For eczema prone skin, apply a fragrance free cream or ointment after washing while skin is still damp. Keeping skin hydrated helps support its barrier. Cleansing is skincare, not a replacement for an eczema treatment plan.4

When should you stop using it?

Stop a new cleanser if you suspect it is causing an itchy or painful rash, including around your eyes. Even brief contact with a facial cleanser can cause contact dermatitis, a rash caused by irritation or an allergic reaction. If avoiding the suspected product does not resolve the problem, a dermatologist can help identify the cause.5