How to choose sunscreen without fragrance or essential oils

What should you check on the label?

Check both the active and inactive ingredients. Active ingredients provide UV protection; the inactive list covers the rest of the formula. For the essential oil requirement, inspect that full list rather than treating the fragrance free wording as your only check. Read the complete ingredient list before choosing a formula, rather than letting the front of the bottle conduct its own interview.23

Broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. SPF mainly describes protection against UVB, which causes sunburn. A large SPF number does not replace broad spectrum protection, however impressive it looks on the front of the bottle. If you will swim or sweat, choose water resistance and check whether the label specifies 40 or 80 minutes. No sunscreen is waterproof.24

Should you choose a mineral sunscreen?

If sunscreen irritates skin with rosacea, look for zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both, together with no fragrance. Silicone ingredients such as dimethicone are another feature to look for in that situation. Some mineral sunscreens leave a white cast, particularly on darker skin tones; tinted or micronized mineral options can reduce it. For rosacea, a cream is preferable to a lotion or gel.1

Mineral filters are also an alternative if you have a diagnosed photoallergy to a chemical sunscreen ingredient. Mineral filters and fragrance avoidance answer different questions: one concerns the UV filters, and the other concerns the rest of the formula. An allergy can involve a sunscreen's fragrances, preservatives, or other ingredients, so choose around your identified allergen rather than the mineral label alone.35

How should you apply it?

1. 1Read the product's directions, because application instructions can differ between creams, sticks, sprays, and other forms. Never spray sunscreen directly onto your face.
2. 2Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure. Cover all uncovered skin, avoiding your eyes and mouth. An average sized adult needs at least one ounce to cover the whole body.
3. 3Include your ears, nose, back of the neck, hands, tops of the feet, hairline, and exposed scalp. Use an SPF lip balm for your lips.
4. 4Reapply at least every two hours, and more often when swimming or sweating. Follow the label's water resistance and reapplication instructions.

Use sun protection throughout the year, including cloudy days. Sunscreen does not block all UV radiation, so combine it with shade, clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. If you take medication, ask your healthcare professional about sun precautions because some medicines increase sun sensitivity.4

What if sunscreen still causes a reaction?

Fragrance avoidance does not rule out irritation or allergy to another ingredient. Stop using a suspected product if a rash develops, and seek medical advice if reactions recur or you cannot find a sunscreen you tolerate. An itchy rash where sunscreen was applied, especially after sun exposure, deserves assessment. Patch testing can identify an ingredient allergy; photopatch testing helps investigate reactions involving sunlight.35

If you suspect sunscreen allergy, speak to your doctor before testing a product yourself. A small area test without a reaction does not rule out irritation. After avoiding the culprit, a phototoxic reaction often fades within a week, while a photoallergic reaction can continue for up to three weeks.35