We’d like to think the majority of skincare products on the market are actually good for our skin — especially considering how many of them make big, lofty claims about how they can treat acne, address dryness and anti-aging concerns, and more.
But you have to be your own skincare expert and read labels very carefully. Some ingredients — including the one super common skincare ingredient that is ruining your skin and is in everything — can do so much more damage than good for your complexion.
Here’s the ingredient to avoid.
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Fragrance
If a product smells too good to be true, stop everything and release yourself from the grips of its enticing allure. Sure, you’d love for your skin to smell like a field of jasmine, but fragrance — which is present in so many skincare products — can irritate your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.
You may already be avoiding artificial fragrances — and that’s great. But it’s equally important to be cautious of natural fragrances that are derived from essential oils.
“Dermatologists do not like fragrance or perfumed products, they are often complex chemicals with irritant or allergic effects,” Sharyn Laughlin, board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Laserderm Ottawa told Derma Store. “Geraniol is a contact allergen and it is estimated that 1 to 2 percent of the population will be sensitized to it.”
Common essential oils like rose and lavender contain geraniol. If you love blending essential oils into your regular skincare routine, Laughlin suggests always mixing them with a carrier oil like sunflower or safflower seed and keeping it simple.
The safest skincare option of all is to avoid all fragrances — artificial and natural. This daily moisturizer, popular with dermatologists, is free of fragrances and rich in ceramides and hyaluronic acid — ingredients that trap moisture within your skin barrier for hydrated skin.
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $17.38, Amazon
