Fragrance free lotion: what to choose and how to use it

Is fragrance free the same as unscented?

No. Fragrance free means no ingredient has been added to give the product a particular smell. Unscented products can contain fragrance used to cover the smell of other ingredients. That fragrance can irritate skin even when you cannot smell it. Unscented and fragrance free are not interchangeable, despite the packaging's interest in making them look like synonyms.1

Look for an explicit fragrance free description rather than choosing by smell alone. If you already know an ingredient irritates your skin or triggers an allergy, check the ingredient list too. Fragrance free does not mean every other ingredient will suit you, and an eczema acceptance seal does not remove the need to check your own triggers.3

Should you choose lotion, cream or ointment?

A lotion can spread easily without being the strongest moisturizer, so ease of application is not a job reference. You can use different textures on different areas: a cream or lotion where skin is less dry and an ointment where it needs more moisture protection. Finding a suitable emollient, meaning a moisturizing treatment, can take a few tries.24

What should you look for in the formula?

Ceramides are a useful ingredient to look for in a moisturizer for dry skin. Dryness develops when skin loses too much water and oil, and moisturizing helps restore moisture. Signs include roughness, flaking, tightness after bathing, itching and cracks. Cold or dry air, frequent handwashing, long hot showers and some medicines can contribute. Changing the lotion alone will not change those exposures, so pair moisturizing with gentler washing.5

How do you apply fragrance free lotion?

1. 1Wash with warm rather than hot water. Keep baths and showers to 5 to 10 minutes, use a gentle cleanser and avoid scrubbing.
2. 2Pat your skin dry. For general dry skin care, apply moisturizer while skin is still damp, when it works best at locking in moisture.
3. 3Apply a generous amount. Smooth an emollient gently in the direction your hair grows rather than rubbing vigorously.
4. 4Reapply when skin feels dry or tight. For dry skin, moisturize 2 to 3 times a day or as often as needed.
5. 5Follow any different directions on your particular product. For example, Kinship directs application to clean, dry skin after bathing.

Handwashing is another useful point to reapply moisturizer, particularly with nummular eczema. Apply it to damp hands after washing and moisturize dry areas throughout the day. Moisturizing every day throughout the year helps trap water in the skin and can reduce eczema flares; it is not just a winter task.1

Two fragrance free body moisturizer examples

Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer is a lightweight lotion formulated for eczema prone skin. It contains 1% colloidal oatmeal to help relieve minor eczema related irritation and itching, plus glycerin, ceramide NP, niacinamide and panthenol. Cetaphil directs you to apply it liberally as often as needed. Its formula is fragrance free and steroid free, and it has National Eczema Association acceptance.6

Kinship calls its Moisturizing Body Lotion Unscented a rich, cushiony cream, because even moisturizer names occasionally need interpreting. The product is explicitly described as fragrance free with no added fragrance, despite having Unscented in its name. Its ingredients include glycerin, ceramide NP, hyaluronic acid and squalane. Kinship directs generous application after bathing, followed by massage until absorbed, and allows daily morning or evening use.3

Can you use body lotion on your face?

Check the particular product rather than assuming every body lotion has the same directions. Cetaphil allows Restoraderm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer on the face, although it is formulated for the body. Test it on a small area before applying it more widely to your face. A separate face moisturizer is another option.6

What results should you expect?

Moisturizers reduce water loss by leaving a protective film on the skin. For contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to an irritant or allergen, identifying and avoiding the trigger is also central to improving symptoms. Lotion cannot replace that step.2

For its Restoraderm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer, Cetaphil reports clinically tested moisture improvement in as little as 2 hours and hydration for 48 hours. Those timings belong to that product, not fragrance free lotions as a category. Continue applying it as directed rather than treating the hydration duration as an application schedule.6

Who needs a different approach?

For nummular eczema, choose a fragrance free, hypoallergenic cream or ointment rather than lotion. If you have diabetes and dry skin, a fragrance free cream or ointment containing ceramides is also preferable. Moisturize daily and after bathing or swimming. Diabetes can make skin extremely dry and slow to heal; cracks can become deep and increase infection risk. Seek immediate medical care for a wound that worsens or fails to heal.17

If you use a steroid cream or another prescribed skin treatment, leave 20 to 30 minutes between that treatment and your emollient. Ask your doctor which should go first. Separating them avoids diluting the medicine or spreading it onto skin that does not need treatment. Do not simply mix the two together.4

When should you stop or get help?

Stop using an emollient if your skin reacts to it and ask a pharmacist about an alternative. Persistent burning or stinging, inflamed hair follicles, or a facial rash that worsens acne need advice from a pharmacist, nurse or doctor. Fragrance free products can still cause reactions to other ingredients.24

Contact a healthcare professional if dryness and itching disturb your sleep, scratching causes open cuts or sores, you itch without a visible rash, or moisturizing and gentler washing do not help. For nummular eczema, continuing patches or unbearable itching also warrant a dermatologist's help.15

Keep emollients and fabrics containing their residue away from flames and cigarettes. Clothing, bedding and dressings can catch fire more easily, and washing does not completely remove the residue. Use a clean spoon or spatula when taking moisturizer from a tub to reduce contamination. Watch for slippery bath or shower surfaces after application.4