The 1 Thing Dermatologists Want You To Avoid In Skin Care — And 11 Creams That Work

It’s possible that lurking inside some of your favorite moisturizer is a potential allergen in the form of fragrance — a potential issue for those with sensitive complexions or those who are prone to skin conditions like eczema, acne or psoriasis.

According to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry, fragrance in skin care products may not only be a common allergen, it is also not essential to the formula in any way, meaning it doesn’t necessarily make the product better.

“[Fragrance] is more about the sensorial experience,” Henry said, adding that just because a fragrance isn’t causing irritation right now, you can still get sensitized to it if you’re using it all the time.

Henry reminded us that there’s also a distinction between labels that read fragrance-free and unscented.

“Fragrance-free means that there has been zero additional fragrance added to the product. What you are smelling is just the smell of the natural ingredients in the product,” she said. Whereas, according to her, unscented products may not have a noticeable scent, but they may have some masking agents that reduce the scent, or some other elements that make the scent neutral.

“Basically, unscented really means ‘neutralized scent’ but it can still have ingredients that could sensitize the skin,” Henry said.

Fragrance-free products, on the other hand, are less likely to contain ingredients that have the potential to cause sensitivities, and, according to Henry, this is a better option. But, if you are someone who must have fragrance (or just loves fragrance), she suggests having your doctor or allergist patch test you to see if there are specific ingredients that you are sensitive to so you know to avoid products that have them.

If you don’t want to take the time to dissect the ingredient list of your go-to facial moisturizer or are just curious to know what Henry and other dermatologists recommend, stick around for the list of lotions and creams below. The top four were chosen by Henry who likes them because they are all noncomedogenic, suitable for all skin types of all ages, and play well with other topicals like retinoids.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

Sephora

A skin barrier-strengthening lightweight moisturizer

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry suggested Kiehl’s ultra facial cream as a good all-purpose, fragrance-free moisturizer for the face. As someone who has often used this cream myself, I can confirm that it’s a straightforward yet effective hydrator delivered in a thick but fully absorbing cream that comforts and replenishes. Notable ingredients include a 4.5% concentration of squalane (a botanical lipid that can prevent water loss) and ceramides, which are essential for a strong skin barrier and healthy complexion. This helps to soothe my chronic eczema and I really appreciate how it actually sinks deep into my skin, rather than sitting on top of it like other oil-containing creams I’ve tried.

Amazon

A reparative cream with prebiotic thermal spring water

Henry also suggested this often-recommended and heavier-weight moisturizer by the French Pharmacy staple brand La Roche-Posay. It doesn’t include fragrance; it does contain niacinamide, a workhorse ingredient that can brighten complexion, manage redness and control oil production. It also features the brand’s signature prebiotic thermal spring water, which is rich in antioxidants, and ceramides that mimic the lipids in the skin’s natural barrier.

Amazon

A basic hydrator with niacinamide for the face and body

Another fragrance-free moisturizer from Henry’s recommended list is Cetaphil’s moisturizing cream for the face and body, which is formulated specifically for dry to very dry skin. The thick texture and non-irritating ingredient list claims to offer hydration for parched skin for up to 48 hours and help restore a compromised skin barrier. It contains glycerin, a beloved humectant that draws moisture into the skin, calming panthenol and antioxidant-rich niacinamide.

Amazon

A brightening day lotion

Elta MD’s selection of clinical skin care products often comes recommended to us by dermatologists and, according to Henry, this daytime moisturizer that’s compatible with sensitive and acne-prone skin is not to be missed. It contains multiple ingredients, like niacinamide and willow bark extract, to brighten and even skin tone and reduce redness. The oil-free formula, which is lightweight in texture, also contains hyaluronic acid, a well-known humectant that draws moisture into the skin.

Sephora

A calming colloidal oatmeal cream

Previously recommended by Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist, this soothing cream by First Aid Beauty is a great fragrance-free option for irritated, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. “It’s a rich cream formulated with colloidal oatmeal which relieves irritation, and shea butter, which protects and maintains our skin barrier,” Shirazi said of the intensely moisturizing cream for the face and body. It also contains allantoin, an ingredient that’s known to calm and soothe skin.

Amazon

A retinol wrinkle-repair cream

This rapid wrinkle-repair cream by Neutrogena was a previous recommendation from Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology. It uses an accelerated retinol complex to promote cellular turnover — a process that can lead to greater collagen production, better skin texture and a reduced appearance of fine lines. It also contains a hydrating dose of hyaluronic acid and can be suitable in treating crepey skin.

Note that if you’re new to retinols, they do have the potential to cause mild flaking and irritation in the first couple weeks of use. They can also cause skin to be more sensitive to the sun, so it’s important to wear sunscreen.

Amazon

A sculpting cream for mature skin

Dr. Azza Halim, a Florida-based physician with a focus in aesthetic medicine, previously suggested Olay’s micro-sculpting cream for one of the best moisturizer options for mature skin. The fragrance-free formula contains hyaluronic acid, amino-peptide fragments, and niacinamide, which all work together to hydrate and firm the skin. It can be a good affordable option for anyone looking to infuse their skin with trusted ingredients for a more supple complexion.

Amazon

A ceramide moisturizing gel for acne-prone skin

CeraVe’s ultra-light moisturizing gel was previously suggested by Shirazi for anyone who prefers lightweight moisturizers or has acne-prone skin. She explained that this weightless and “water-based moisturizer is formulated with three essential ceramides to support the skin barrier, niacinamide to help calm the skin and regulate oil production, and hyaluronic acid for immediate and long-lasting hydration.” According to her, it feels refreshing on the skin, absorbs quickly and is the perfect consistency for layering with other skin care or beauty products.

Sephora

An elasticity-boosting peptide cream

According to Halim, Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide fragrance-free cream is rich in nine different peptides, growth factors, and amino acids to support skin’s resilience and texture. This well-known rich and fast-absorbing cream also contains pygmy water lily stem cell extract and folic acid ferment, both of which claim to promote more elasticity and bounce and serve as an excellent source of antioxidants to prevent premature skin aging.

Amazon

A ceramide night lotion

CeraVe’s moisturizing night lotion was previously recommended by New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nava Greenfield. She said that it was “basic and affordable and provides the necessary hydration one would need for daily use.”

Like all products from the CeraVe line, this evening treatment is formulated with the iconic blend of three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Sephora

A peptide-rich cream for dry skin

This lipid peptide cream by Skinfix has been dermatologist-recommended not once but twice as an optimal and fragrance-free solution for anyone with troubled, dry and sensitive skin. It contains a patented triple-lipid complex that restores ceramides in the skin along with the fatty acid levels to support a healthy skin barrier. You can also find a plumping blend of peptides and ultra-hydrating glycerin. I’ve also used this myself, and I really enjoy it during the winter when treating my eczema-inflamed skin.

Shopping deputy managing editor Marquaysa Battle has super sensitive skin and has tried nearly everything. After years of trial and error, see which products really work for her:

Robbie Ross from Robbie Ross / Canva, CeraVe

CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser

The hype about this fragrance-free cleanser is real! As most CeraVe products are, it’s approved by the National Eczema Association and has been my main thing for years. Sometimes, eczema (or even just the weather or air!) can render my face extremely dry. I can cleanse with this twice daily without summoning the tight, parched feeling I hate. “It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin as well as ceramides [to] support and strengthen the skin barrier,” Dr. Marisa Garshick told HuffPost in a previous report on all-purpose cleanser recommendations.

I keep a full-size bottle on my counter and a three-ounce bottle for travel (usually found the easiest and most affordable at Target) at all times.

Robbie Ross from Robbie Ross Canva Pro, CeraVe

CeraVe acne foaming cream cleanser

I promise this isn’t meant to be a CeraVe ad but I can’t mention the hydrating cleanser without also noting my second-in-command: The acne foaming cream cleanser. I don’t use it daily (despite the brand saying it’s OK) but whenever I have a case of mild adult acne, this is the cleanser I lean on to clear it up right away and prevent additional outbreaks. Trying to address one skin issue without triggering another with my allergies is pretty much the story of my life and luckily, this product helps my successful balancing act.

Note: While this is a gentle, fragrance-free formula, it contains 4% benzoyl peroxide — an ingredient designed to kill acne-causing bacteria. Like most acne products, this means it can cause dryness (balancing act, remember?). That said, you can prevent it by following it with a good moisturizer and other hydrating products — and oh darling, do I have great recs for this. Scroll on!

Hero Cosmetics acne patches

At least once a month, I experience a bump or two and these acne patches help clear them up quickly. It may not be a big deal to some that I can wear these because they’re so popular now, but as a kid, I couldn’t even put fun stickers on my face because the adhesive would break me out for days afterward. I tried one anyway because at least it didn’t have any added fragrance or other weird ingredients.

Not only does the patch minimize redness and the overall size of a pimple, but sometimes it completely clears a bump overnight — no itching or scarring involved. I use the Invisible+ ones because they’re thinner and designed to wear discreetly in the daytime. At night or when I don’t plan to leave the house, I wear the Original acne patches.

CeraVe acne control gel

Another item in my trusted CeraVe war chest is this fragrance-free acne control gel. It’s a gentle formula that not only clears up bumps but helps prevent future breakouts and minimizes the look of pores. I especially love that it’s non-drying because it’s alcohol-free and designed to moisturize, too — a first for me where acne products for sensitive skin are concerned. Transparently, even though it’s designed to be gentle, I still never lather it all over my face. I use it to spot correct only.

Heritage Store rosewater toner

In 2020, I had an extreme dry skin period with an unusual amount of acne breakouts. I learned from aestheticians and dermatologists that breakouts can happen due to your skin over-producing oil in response to dehydration. Down for something cheaper than a co-pay, I looked up this rosewater moisturizing essence after an aesthetician recommended it on Twitter. Of course, I dived into the ingredients first and to my surprise, the essence does contain fragrance! The reason I still tried it: It’s all-natural, derived from real roses and not some synthetic fragrance made up in a lab. The toner itself restores the skin’s pH balance while keeping it hydrated and supple thanks to hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA.

I used the hydrating toner with a mega-hydrating night cream and my face returned to normal in no time. I now use the night cream only as needed but I still use this toner daily — after cleansing but before moisturizing. Dryness, solved!

Amazon, Robbie Ross/Canva

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant

I always skipped traditional exfoliators because they irritated me so badly — especially the ones with the abrasive beads. (By the way, many dermatologists and aestheticians warn against using those face scrubs because they’re too harsh on anyone’s skin, even if you don’t feel it.)

This fragrance-free exfoliant from cult-favorite skin care brand Paula’s Choice has been a godsend. Instead of beads, this exfoliant includes 2% beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that gently removes layers of dead skin without the abrasion. I use this two times a week and a little goes a LONG way so I only ever buy the smallest (and cheapest!) travel size, which lasts me six months or more.

Eucerin Intensive Repair body lotion

Although I do use CeraVe’s lotion, too, the Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion reigns supreme for deep hydration if you have dry skin. It’s fragrance-free and thick for times when I’m dealing with excessive dryness. I like to put this on immediately after hopping out of the shower to rehydrate my skin, soften it and give it a glow. The repair lotion comes in a range of thicknesses based on skin preferences and needs. Each Eucerin lotion bottle reflects the thickness in an easy-to-understand chart posted on the front of the label and the range includes light, mid-level and rich.

I use the richest on the meter primarily in the winter when my skin gets the driest or when I have a severe dry spell due to my eczema throughout the year. When I’m not going through any severe dryness and it’s hot out, I prefer the lighter option; it’s easier to spread and still hydrates well. I also keep the mini-size on hand in my purse to rehydrate my hands since I wash them so often. I never put it on my face because even the lightest one is too heavy for that.

CeraVe daily moisturizing lotion

For my face, I keep this fragrance-free daily moisturizing lotion on hand. This one is rich enough to hydrate the full body thanks to the hyaluronic acid on the ingredients list, which can keep the body moisturized for up to 24 hours! It also has ceramides that restore and maintain the skin’s barrier. Still, the lotion is light enough to use on the face without causing breakouts. I love to check this one in my suitcase when I travel so I can save space by using one product to moisturize my face and body.

CeraVe eye repair cream

The eye area tends to be the most sensitive part of most humans’ faces and it’s extra-sensitive for me. While many brands tout a “gentle” eye cream, I pray CeraVe never stops making this fragrance-free eye repair because it’s the only one I can apply without waking up to lids twice their size. It has the three essential ceramides that repair and protect the skin barrier plus hyaluronic acid to keep the area from becoming dry and papery. The cream also helps minimize the look of puffiness and dark circles (ones that aren’t associated with genetics). I also use it on my lips if I’m ever in a pinch and can’t find my lip balm and, hey, it works.

Friendly heads up: This isn’t the cream for addressing fine lines and wrinkles. The one you’re looking for is CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Eye Cream. I haven’t tried that one but it does have thousands of 5-star ratings if you’re interested. Both creams are recommended by dermatologists, per previous HuffPost reports.

Supergoop! Unseen sunscreen

This fragrance-free sunscreen is pricier than others but I declare it’s worth every penny spent and I buy it on repeat. It’s super lightweight on my face thanks to an oil-free formula and it offers SPF 40 sun protection.

Lastly and most important to me, it looks GREAT on my face. Most sunscreens on the market give me a white cast that I hate. As powerful as this one is, the product isn’t visually detectable. Because a little goes a long way, I keep one mini-size for daily use and another in my toiletry bag for travel. The sunscreen is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes and can even be worn under makeup.

Black Girl Sunscreen

I also adore Black Girl Sunscreen and keep several bottles on hand, especially during the summer. Although it’s designed for the face and body, I only apply it to my body because I prefer the lighter, Supergoop! formula on my face.

That said, the brand did release a face-specific sunscreen after its initial launch that I tried later with positive results. Both formulas are fragrance-free and leave no white cast — making BGS and Supergoop! the only fragrance-free sun-protective products on the market that don’t irritate my skin. For BGS, I also appreciate that it’s designed with other important skin care properties like jojoba, cacao and avocado that nourish the skin and keep it hydrated.

Avatara Drink Up Thirst-Quenching Hydro face mask

I could never participate in the self-care masking fun I see so many people doing on social media until I found this hydrating Drink Up face mask. It’s free of irritating ingredients like silicones, parabens and fragrances yet rich with yummy ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and licorice root.

The mask also has a cooling, soft and jelly-like texture, making it a soothing way to relax and treat yourself at the end of a hot, summer day. Get a pack of five from Amazon!

Dove ultra-sensitive gel body wash

Dove has been my go-to brand for body wash and soaps for almost my entire life. In middle school, I used their fragrance-free bar soap. By high school, I was a body wash snob using their fragrance-free option. That product eventually phased out for a sensitive skin version that I don’t love. This January, Dove released its ultra-sensitive body wash that’s a dream, OK? It doesn’t lather much but it cleanses without drying and most importantly, it doesn’t irritate.

Note: Yes, items labeled “sensitive skin” versus “fragrance-free” are different. They mean different things about the ingredients list and subsequently, for how people with fragrance allergies may react to the products. For more info about the difference between the labeling, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s cheat sheet about it. Short version: I go with fragrance-free products nearly every time.

And pro tip: I rarely ever find this in person anywhere except Target.

Eucerin body and face cleanser

When Dove took away my preferred fragrance-free body wash option, I had to make a quick pivot to either their bar soap or this gentle fragrance-free Eucerin wash. Since it’s for the face and body, it’s handy for travel to minimize the bottle count in your suitcase. If you’re ever in a pinch and need to buy some in person, I rarely see this body wash in stores outside of Target. Walmart does carry an alternate Eucerin body wash but be warned: that one isn’t for the face.

Sephora

Clinique Moisture Surge

Clinique is the OG skin care brand my mother and grandmother used and it’s still a fine choice for high-end beauty finds that people with sensitive skin can indulge in. The brand’s Moisture Surge hydrator has supported my skin since high school. First launched in 1988 and revamped with an improved formula in 2021, it remains a reliable workhorse of a product. The formula hydrates, helps brighten dark spots, smoothes and preps skin for makeup and can even be used as a 15-minute mask! (Before I found an actual face mask my skin could handle, I used this during my nighttime routine and it zapped the dryness away with ease.)

CeraVe skin renewing night cream

This fragrance-free night cream works really well to super-hydrate and restore the skin’s protective barrier overnight. It’s also packed with peptides that help smooth lines and wrinkles. Truthfully though, the cream isn’t as hydrating as the Clinique Moisture Surge, but I do use it a lot and recommend it to others because it goes on sale more often. It’s also more convenient to find and buy than Clinique’s hydrator, even though they’re both sold online. This one is an easier pick-up product at way more stores where you would be shopping for other things in person if you need it more immediately.

Pro tip: No shade to drugstores, but this cream is always a few dollars cheaper at the bigger retailers. Case in point, it’s $20 at Walgreens and CVS right now. LOL why?

Fragrance-free baby wipes

As you likely know, wipes come in handy for all sorts of things, especially when you’re on the go. Unfortunately, plenty of wipes described as “sensitive” and even “fragrance-free” still burned my face. I keep a pack of these fragrance-free baby wipes in my bag at all times because I never know when I need to wipe something on or around me. These I can use on my face, neck and hands with no trouble. They’re available in travel and full sizes plus three quantity options. (If you’re ever in-person, look for the smallest size on the aisle for travel-size toiletries.)

Summer’s Eve fragrance-free daily gentle cloths

Speaking of wipes, these pH-balanced Summer’s Eve wipes are fragrance-, dye- and paraben-free so you can wipe intimate areas on the go without risking irritation. Although I try my darndest to rarely use public restrooms, sometimes, I just gotta go. And sometimes? I accidentally go into the stall without checking if it has tissue first. When that happens, these wipes are always in my bag to save the day without causing more issues later.

But also, honestly? I originally bought these to keep on hand in case I had to wipe my pits down at an outdoor concert last year. Per the reviews, I’m not the only one who uses them all over. Get a pack of 16 on Amazon for under $5.

Seen Restore scalp serum

Shocking revelation here: Scalp is skin. We don’t often treat it like it is because we put things on our heads that we’d never allow on our faces. Still, our scalps can call for a little skin care-focused TLC. This lightweight Seen Restore scalp serum has been my holy grail. Is it expensive? Yes, but it’s worth every penny. The serum is a fragrance-free, non-greasy formula perfect for hydrating my scalp when it gets dry but I don’t have time (or it’s too early) for a full wash day. The Seen brand itself is a skin care-focused hair care brand founded by a Harvard-trained dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin.

I wouldn’t dare apply many of the scalp serums on the market because they’d take me from one itchy situation to a worse one that requires medication — but this serum saves the day every time. I buy it at full price without blinking, but we’re both in luck because it’s 30% off right now.

Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioning set

Speaking of watching what I put on my head so I don’t spite my scalp, this Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioner combo is also an affordable hair care system that’s gentle on my skin. It’s especially helpful because I cleanse my hair in the shower to kill two birds with one wash session. With this combo, I don’t have to worry about irritating my scalp or any other part of my body while it runs down in the water. Of course, because it’s still a hair care product, I also appreciate how well it works on my hair. It’s designed for all hair types and I’m very pleased it works for my kinks and coils. The shampoo is cleansing without stripping and the conditioner softens and replenishes.

Purell hand sanitizer wipes

I wash my hands and sanitize them a ridiculous amount of times per day. Double that when I’m traveling. These fragrance-free Purell wipes ensure I can be as excessive with that practice as often as I please without triggering a reaction. They come in individual packets in a box of 100 and I have them tucked everywhere.

Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets

Yes, having sensitive skin requires me to also be mindful about what I wash my clothes with. As weird as it may be that something meant to cleanse my clothes could linger in fabric and make me itchy days later — that’s definitely my experience if I don’t use gentle laundry detergent. Fragrance-free Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets are a mess-free option I love. They’re also very lightweight and easy to slip into a carry-on or suitcase when I’m traveling.

100% pure jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is one of the only oils that mimic the skin’s natural sebum, making it one of the most comfortable oils to lather on your skin without feeling greasy or sticky. When I need to rub my feet after a long day, I use it as long as it’s 100% pure jojoba oil. I even take it with me for the massage therapists to use at the spa instead of their house oils, since those are often filled with fragrances that break me out. I usually grab the one from Cliganic on Amazon or if I need to buy it in person, I grab the Sky Organics one from Walmart.

Off! Clean Feel insect repellant

Off! Clean Feel insect repellant is the only bug spray I can wear. It’s fragrance-free and does “feel good on skin” (as in not sticky) just as they market it on the bottle. I brought this with me on a trip to Aruba (along with bug-repellant bracelets) to survive mosquitos in the Caribbean and it worked superbly.

Cliganic mosquito repellent bracelets

Shocked to see repellent bracelets on a list of products for sensitive skin? Truly, if it touches the skin, it’s something I have to think twice about before contact. In Aruba, a friend was surprised I could wear these (because I can’t wear most jewelry). But ta-da, I can, they don’t irritate and they did repel mosquitos. The bracelets are made with all-natural geranium, lemongrass and citronella to ward off mosquitos without making trouble for my wrist. They’re available in packs of 10, 25 or 50.

The 1 Thing Dermatologists Want You To Avoid In Skin Care — And 11 Creams That Work

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