Having covered the beauty industry for a few years now, I'm starting to realize that there might be too many bells and whistles (shocking, I know). Real talk: I even started using too many different products on my skin and contracted a light case of dermatitis recently. It forced me to take a step back and remember that less really is more. Using that many products with various ingredients (especially fragrances) can irritate your skin in the long run. Anyway, I digress. This was basically my longwinded way of saying that there are a lot of potential irritants in skincare nowadays.
Now, I try to select products that have no synthetic fragrances or other potentially irritating ingredients so my skin doesn't have another meltdown. What's a bit of a bummer is that a lot of crucial products like moisturizers actually have fragrances in them. I decided to get a little expert help for some recs since I've also realized that self-curating my routine doesn't always end well. Celebrity facialist, Candace Marino, who has worked with stars like Dove Cameron, Kourtney Kardashian, Miranda Kerr, and Grimes, was kind enough to help me out. I even managed to get a few favorites from double-board certified plastic surgeon Smita Ramanadham, MD, who also has her own skincare line. Keep reading for all the best fragrance-free moisturizers as picked by the experts.
1. SkinBetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment
"I'm obsessed with this product because I love the feeling of a really nourishing moisturizer, but can't handle the occlusive feeling of heavy creams. This product delivers all the moisture without weighing you down. This fragrance-free moisturizer is healing, soothing, and anti-aging. It contains squalene, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol for a deeply nourishing and reparative treatment that will strengthen the barrier and is safe to use post-laser to heal the skin."—Candace Marino
2. Augustinus Bader The Cream
"This lightweight cream is great for combination to oily complexions and acne-prone skin. It helps to hydrate and balance the skin while stimulating collagen production, normalizing the skin barrier, and reducing redness. This is a best-seller for a reason!"—Marino
3. Senté Dermal Repair UltraNourish
"For extremely dry skin types and ultra-fragile or reactive skin, this lipid-replenishing cream nourishes and smooths skin while preventing water loss. Uniquely formulated for drier, sensitive skin types, this soft facial cream addresses fine lines, wrinkles, and redness with patented Heparan Sulfate Analog (HSA) technology and a lipid blend, which deeply hydrates, fortifies, and helps restore the skin's natural barrier."—Marino
4. Biologique Recherche Crème PIGM 400
"This cream delivers brightening and anti-aging ingredients. Its formula helps correct existing pigmentation and prevents further discoloration from surfacing. It instantly brightens and hydrates the skin and provides a luminous glow. I call it an Instagram filter in a bottle."—Marino
5. Kora Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer
"[One of my] favorite moisturizers is the Kora Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer used by Miranda Kerr herself. This is a certified organic, lightweight formula that instantly hydrates and soothes the skin without leaving any shine. The skin will literally drink up this formula making it the perfect moisturizer for anyone who wants hard hitting moisture without the heaviness of a cream. It features algae to hydrate and improves clarity. [There are] antioxidants like green tea, alpine rose, and Swiss glacial waters which are rich in minerals to support overall skin health. The bonus? A gorgeous aquamarine crystal jar for your vanity that you’ll keep and refill with eco-friendly pods."—Marino
6. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
"It's no fuss, good for sensitive skin, there's no residue or fragrance, and pretty much any skin type can use it. It's also cost-effective!"—Smita Ramanadham
7. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
"Another great, no-fuss moisturizer you can get at the drugstore. It won’t cause breakouts and can be very light on your skin."—Ramanadham
8. EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer
"I also really love EltaMD's AM and PM Therapy moisturizers. There isn't a lot of residue with the AM, and the PM one is great for nighttime because it's thicker."—Ramanadham
9. Alo Yoga Daily SPF Face Moisturizer
Okay, so this option does have a very light scent due to some of the natural oils in it, but it is free of synthetic fragrances. It's still a great option, though, as it soothes the skin with aloe vera, locks in moisture with squalane, provides antioxidant protection, and even provides a little SPF protection.
10. Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Treatment
Vanicream is another drugstore classic that gets the job done. It's totally fragrance-free, noncomedogenic, and restores dehydrated skin. You can even use it as a body moisturizer, too.
11. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oil-Control Moisturizer
First Aid Beauty is one of my personal favorite hypoallergenic brands. This particular moisturizer from the brand is great if you have oily or acne-prone skin due to the oil-absorbing technology in the formula. It also has niacinamide, a hero ingredient for breakouts.
12. Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer
This weightless moisturizer is great for both day and night. It contains antioxidant-rich blueberry and pumpkin extract in addition to pore-minimizing niacinamide. It's both noncomedogenic and fragrance-free.
13. Augustinus Bader The Light Cream
This new offering from Augustinus Bader is just as good as The Cream or Rich Cream but is designed for those with oilier skin types. It still contains Bader's legendary cocktail of anti-aging ingredients, his TFC8 complex but is just a tad lighter on the complexion. It gently mattifies while still protecting the skin barrier with deep hydration.
14. SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture
SkinCeuticals also offers a great fragrance-free daily moisturizer that helps reduce pore size and protects the skin from environmental damage. It's also incredibly smooth and non-greasy.
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