We all know the feeling of opening a jar of skincare and sniffing to see if it smells good or not. For most of us the better a product smells, the more likely we are to buy and use it. I was the same way until last year when I used a product with ‘Oud’ and my face blew up like a basketball.
Now, my motto is: “ if it smells too good, then it’s not going on my face”. While fragrance has its place in skincare, that place is not on your face… especially if you have sensitive skin.
WHAT IS FRAGRANCE?
A fragrance or scent is a mixture of natural essential oils or synthetic aromatic compounds, fixatives, and solvents which smell good.
Scents are added to skin care products to make them smell good or to neutralize the nasty odours of its ingredients.
WHY IS THERE FRAGRANCE IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS?
The main reasons why fragrance is added to skincare is so that you can:
- Buy them
- Enjoy using them
The smell of a product is the first thing that gets you to buy them because scent evokes feelings, emotions and can even transport you to places.
Types of Fragrances used in Skincare Products
- Synthetic fragrance: These are made in a lab, usually from petroleum and natural gas by-products.
- Natural fragrance: These are from natural ingredients, like citrus fruits, flowers, fruits, sap, seeds, bark or leaves. And are extracted through distillation, fermentation, or cold pressing.
- Essential oils: These are the WORST types of fragrance you can use on your skin and comes from the flowers, seeds, and leaves of plants.
Is fragrance bad for your skin?
Unfortunately yes, especially if you have sensitive skin. Fragrance can trigger allergies, asthma, eczema and hives.
Every fragrance, natural or synthetic, can be irritating because they have a complex composition with over 50 -100 chemicals. The high number of components means there is a greater chance of causing irritation.
ALL fragrances can be bad for sensitive skin and even if your skin doesn’t show instant signs of irritation there is likely to be an underlying irritation.
Should You Worry About Fragrance In Skincare If Your Skin Isn’t Sensitive?
Yes and no.
Some people believe that any type of fragrance is damaging to the skin, even if it is not visible. So people with very sensitive skin should take a more minimal approach to their routine since every fragrance has the potential to cause a reaction.
Unfortunately, terms “natural”, “paraben-free” or’’fragrance-free’’ are not regulated, which makes it difficult to choose the right products based on the packaging.
To get the best for your skin, choose a brand that actually specializes in manufacturing skincare products and pay attention to ingredients; not just pretty packaging. If you have sensitive skin, stick with fragrance-free products, although they are not regulated you are more likely to get a non-irritating product.
There is a lot of conflicting information out there about skincare & products so, suffice to say, when in doubt, consult an actual professional because only then can you be sure of what is going on your skin.
That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts, do you love sweet smelling skincare?
Chizo is a medical doctor and skincare consultant based in Abuja. When she is not busy implementing health programs and providing strategic guidance on reproductive health, she is writing blog posts on www.beautyharbour.com. You can find her on Instagram @beautyharbour, Twitter @_beautyharbour and via email beautyharbourblog@gmail.com
