Fragrance in Skincare: What It Is, Safety, Side Effects, and Clean Alternatives

In a time where clean beauty brands are thriving and immensely putting their efforts into advertising and awareness campaigns about what is and what is avoided in our products, figuring out which ingredients we should avoid in our skincare is necessary.

What is Fragrance in skincare?

Fragrances are of two types: natural and synthetic. Fragrances are used in beauty products to increase their shelf life, while natural can last for one or two years, and synthetic can last for up to five years.

Is fragrance safe for the skin?

When a beauty brand mentions fragrances as one of the ingredients, they are hiding the chemical-based ingredients under the name. The stronger the smell of fragrance there is, the more chemical based ingredients are added to the formula.

These chemical-based ingredients are linked to asthma, trigger allergies, and hormone disruption, especially for people with sensitive skin. Fragrance is one of the top 5 allergens in the world.

What are the side effects of fragrances in skincare?

An Australian-based study published suggests that sensitivity to fragrance is more common than we ever imagined.

One-third of the study's candidates reported one or more health issues from fragranced products, while more than 10% said they had developed skin problems like irritation, pores, rashes, hives, and dermatitis. In contrast, 20% reported respiratory difficulties, 15% addressed symptoms such as congestion and watery eyes, and 10% experienced migraines and headaches.

There are so many different types of fragrances that are used today. People with sensitive skin and pregnant ladies are advised to check the product labels before they purchase beauty products.

What are clean alternatives to fragrance-based skincare routines?

It is not difficult to find clean beauty products that are fragrance-free. The simple two buzzwords "gentle" and "simple" are the easiest way to first understand the type of brand that might use fragrance free ingredients. Please go through the label bar and know the clean beauty brands that are transparent with their ingredients.

We at Skin story believe in being transparent with our ingredients with our consumers to be safe for everyone. All our multisticks are 100% fragrance-free and safe for all skin types and everyone out there.