Fragrance
Fragrance · INCI: Fragrance
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Fragrance comedogenic?
No. Fragrance isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Fragrance is the label term for a blend of scent compounds, natural or synthetic, added to make a product smell pleasant or to cover the odor of its raw materials. In skincare the blend is used in small amounts. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Fragrance appears on many lists of ingredients to avoid, and the reason is irritation and allergy, which is a different question from pore-clogging. Reactive skin can respond to fragrance with redness or stinging. Our reading covers clogged pores only and we stand by it.
Where it shows up
Moisturizers, cleansers, body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and body washes, listed as Fragrance or Parfum and usually sitting in the lower part of the label.
Names we read the same way
- Parfum
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What causes acne.