BEAUTY SOS

EAU NO Discover the top fragrance faux pas at realsimple. com/eauno.

“Most fragrances and scented products are formulated using a cocktail of naturally derived and synthetic ingredients,” says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and the founder of Beauty Stat.com, a cosmetics resource site. “Often people blame the overall blend for whatever reaction they are experiencing when the actual culprit could be a single ingredient, like one fragrance or a preservative that may or may not have a scent,” says Pamela Dalton, Ph.D., an expert in olfactory research at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. The good news? You don’t have to swear off fragrances completely. “Many people are able to find options that don’t include the offending ingredient,” says Dalton. The not-sogood news? It will take some trial-and-error to pinpoint what’s causing your reaction.

“Dab an over-the-counter cortisone ointment on the area twice daily until the irritation subsides,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York City. Although natural fragrances may seem like a safer bet, “they are just as likely to cause a reaction as their synthetic counterparts,” says Dalton. To identify the cause properly, see a dermatologist for a skin patch test.

It’s the concentration of the scent that can lead to a pounding head. “If it’s too overpowering, it can cause physical symptoms, just like bright lights or loud noises can,” says Dalton. Try swapping eau de parfum for a lighter eau de toilette or body splash. Or opt for a line that specializes in single-note fragrances. “The fewer the ingredients, the less likely you are to get symptoms,” says Robinson.

Written by

Jenny Jin

Photograph by

Yasu + Junko