How-to guide

How to Switch Your Routine to Fragrance-Free

Moving to fragrance-free products is one of the highest-impact changes for sensitive skin. Here's how to do it without buying everything at once.

Why it’s worth it

Fragrance is the most common trigger of contact dermatitis, so going fragrance-free is often the single biggest improvement for reactive skin. You do not need to do it all at once.

The method

  1. Start with leave-on products (moisturiser, serum, sunscreen), which stay on the skin and matter most.
  2. Read the label properly: choose “fragrance-free” rather than “unscented”, and scan for Parfum, Aroma and the named allergens like Limonene and Linalool.
  3. Swap as you run out rather than replacing everything in one go.
  4. Include laundry and washing-up: fragrance in detergents reaches skin all day, so a fragrance-free, non-bio detergent helps.

Make the swaps quicker

Checking every new label for hidden fragrance is the slow part. ClearaScan lets you save “fragrance” (and specific allergens) to your list and flags them on any product you scan, plus a Reaction Journal, a shared Care Circle so others can scan for you, and a Trusted Products list. (We co-founded ClearaScan and are not paid to mention it.)

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A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.