9 Sneaky Ingredients to Watch Out for in Skin Care Products

Here's another skin care ingredient situation where YMMV, but generally speaking, your skin will appreciate it when you reach for non-fragranced products. Especially if you have sensitive or compromised skin.

"Many fragrances are skin and eye irritants. They are also common culprits of allergic reactions and can even trigger headaches and dizziness," notes Dr. Murphy-Rose. "Contact dermatitis occurs after exposure to an offending ingredient, and fragrance is one of the most common triggers. Contact dermatitis usually appears as pink or red scaly dry-appearing rashes that may itch."

Dr. Birnbaum adds that you should look for "fragrance-free" products over "unscented" products. "'Unscented' products can use a masking fragrance to mask an unpleasant smell to produce a neutral smell, but they are still fragranced," she says.

Fortunately, there are plenty of fragrance-free products out there, including products by Vanicream, First Aid Beauty, Cetaphil, and Cerave. Try Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream, $25.

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