How to choose a moisturizer without fragrance or essential oils

How do you check the label?

Fragrance free does not mean allergen free, and a fragrance free claim alone is not enough if you have a diagnosed fragrance allergy.23

1. 1Start with a fragrance free label rather than an unscented claim.
2. 2Read the ingredients for fragrance, perfumes, masking perfumes, aroma chemicals and essential oils.
3. 3Check plant names as well as familiar oil names. Examples include Melaleuca alternifolia oil for tea tree, Mentha piperita oil for peppermint and Eucalyptus globulus oil for eucalyptus.
4. 4If you have a confirmed fragrance allergy, check for your specific allergens too. These can include eugenol, geraniol, coumarin and isoeugenol, rather than a single ingredient called fragrance.

Are natural essential oils a better option?

Essential oils are aromatic substances extracted from plants, and several can cause allergic contact dermatitis, an itchy skin reaction caused by contact with an allergen. Tea tree, lemongrass, sandalwood and clove oils are among the known causes. People with atopic dermatitis are at greater risk of essential oil contact allergy. Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to skin. For dry, sensitive skin or skin allergies, choosing a moisturizer without added botanicals is also a sensible starting point.34

Should you choose a lotion, cream or ointment?

For ordinary facial dryness, a lighter lotion or gel is generally suitable unless your skin is very dry. Dry body skin benefits from a cream. Eczema changes the choice: for nummular eczema, which causes spots and patches, choose a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than lotion. The same texture advice applies to dyshidrotic eczema, which can affect the hands and feet; lotions can worsen it.135

For dry skin, look for water attracting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or urea, moisture sealing ingredients such as dimethicone or petrolatum, and softening ingredients such as mineral oil. Ceramides help retain moisture too. These ingredients serve different jobs, so a useful formula combines hydration with protection against water loss. Judge the formula rather than the price, because a more expensive tub does not earn extra credit for being a tub.3

How should you use it?

1. 1Wash with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance free cleanser.
2. 2Apply moisturizer while skin is still damp after bathing, showering or handwashing.
3. 3Use moisturizer every day throughout the year, and reapply to dry areas during the day. With dyshidrotic eczema, apply after washing and whenever skin feels dry.

Moisturizers can hydrate immediately and make the surface feel smoother and softer. For eczema, consistent use helps reduce dryness and flare ups. Removing fragrance and essential oils does not remove every possible cause of a reaction: preservatives and other moisturizer ingredients can also cause irritation or allergy.16

What if the moisturizer still causes a reaction?

Stop using a suspected trigger if you develop itching, redness or scaling. An essential oil allergy can appear 24 to 72 hours after exposure, so a comfortable first application does not rule it out. If reactions keep happening, a dermatologist can use patch testing to identify allergens, including testing your own products. Discuss home product testing with your doctor first if you suspect fragrance allergy. Seek medical help if dryness persists despite moisturizing, eczema patches continue, or itching becomes unbearable.1234