The best fragrance-free moisturizer for dry skin is a cream that says "fragrance-free" on the label and has no fragrance, parfum or essential oils in the ingredient list. Our top pick is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, and Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is the richer drugstore option.
"Unscented" isn't the same thing, and even review sites mix the two up. Here's how to check a label, then seven picks.
Quick picks
| Badge | Pick | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|
| Top pick | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer | A medium-weight daily cream with ceramide-3, niacinamide and glycerin |
| Best gel-cream | Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream, Fragrance Free | Light and fast-absorbing, made for normal to dry skin |
| Best rich cream | Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream | No. 1 of 100 moisturizers in NBC Select's ranking; face and body |
| Best for very dry, itchy-feeling skin | Vanicream Moisturizing Cream | Ten ingredients, petrolatum second, free of masking fragrance |
| Best for mature skin | Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance-Free | Niacinamide and peptides, in the fragrance-free version |
| Best with SPF | EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 | A moisturizing sunscreen with hyaluronic acid |
| Best splurge | Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream | Three ceramides and plant oils, no essential oils |
Fragrance-free vs unscented lotion: what the label means
Fragrance-free means no fragrance was added. Unscented only means the product doesn't smell of much, and that can be done with fragrance.
The FDA says some "unscented" products contain just enough fragrance to mask the smell of other ingredients. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) agrees: dermatologists recommend products labeled "fragrance-free", and the chemicals that hide odors in "unscented" products can irritate dry, sensitive skin.
Vanicream puts it plainly on its own FAQ: its Moisturizing Cream is "free of fragrance and masking fragrances."
How to read a label for fragrance
- Find the claim on the front. "Fragrance-free" is the one you want. "Unscented" tells you nothing about what's inside.
- Turn it over and scan the ingredient list for "fragrance" or "parfum." The FDA says US labels can list a whole fragrance blend as simply "Fragrance," because the formulas are treated as trade secrets.
- Look for essential oils, like lavender or citrus oil. The FDA notes there's no regulatory definition of "essential oils."
- Check the exact version. Same-name products can differ. Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel is "infused with signature fragrance," while the Hydro Boost Gel Cream is "free of dyes and fragrance." Olay says its original Micro-Sculpting Cream has "very subtle florals" and sells a separate fragrance-free version.
- Trust the ingredient list over anyone's summary. NBC Select's dry-skin guide marks Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream "Fragrance-free: yes," but Tatcha's own ingredient list includes "Parfum/fragrance."
Why choose a fragrance free moisturizer for sensitive skin
Fragrance is one of the more common things people react to. The AAD says more than 15,000 things that touch the skin can cause an allergic reaction, and that "some of the more common ones are fragrance and nickel." The first sign is often itch, and the rash can show up hours or days later.
The FDA adds that some components of fragrance formulas can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities in some people. Its advice: choose fragrance-free products and check the ingredient list carefully.
The AAD's dry-skin tips also put fragrance, including deodorant soaps, on the list of things to stop using.
The National Eczema Association Seal, explained
Two of our picks carry the National Eczema Association (NEA) Seal of Acceptance. Here's what it means, from the NEA's own page:
- It requires fragrance-free. The NEA says products "must be fragrance-free, and there should be no discernable/strong scent or anything aromatic" in the final product.
- It bans a list of ingredients. Products can't contain anything on the NEA's "Ecz-clusion List" of known irritants and allergens, in any amount.
- A panel reviews each product. Dermatologists, allergists and eczema experts review the ingredients, formula and safety-testing data.
- Brands apply for it. Accepted products are licensed to use the Seal, renewed yearly. A product without it may simply never have applied.
The NEA itself adds that a product that works for one person may not work for another. The Seal is a useful shortcut, not a guarantee.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Best for: a daily face moisturizer that's rich enough for dry skin but sits well under sunscreen. Drugstore.
What we love
- NBC Select lists it as fragrance-free and names it its editor's pick for dry skin.
- Reporter Zoe Malin says it's "moisturizing enough to prevent dry, flakey skin, yet thin enough that it absorbs quickly."
- La Roche-Posay says it gives "48-hour moisture" and is non-comedogenic and oil-free.
Keep in mind
- NBC Select calls out the small size.
- There's an SPF 30 version with almost the same name. Check the box for "UV" if you want the sunscreen one.
Key ingredients: ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin, La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water.
How to use: a small amount on damp skin after cleansing, morning and night. In the morning, follow with sunscreen.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream, Fragrance Free
Best for: dry skin that hates heavy creams, or anyone who wants a light, bouncy texture. Drugstore.
What we love
- Neutrogena calls it "a water-like face moisturizer" with "48-hour hydration," made for normal to dry skin and gentle enough for sensitive skin.
- "Allergy-tested and free of dyes and fragrance," according to the brand.
- The ingredient list pairs glycerin and hyaluronic acid with urea and amino acids. Dimethicone is third.
- NBC Select says most of its experts recommend the Hydro Boost line for dry skin.
Keep in mind
- Buy the Gel Cream. The Hydro Boost Water Gel contains fragrance.
- It's a gel-cream, not a rich cream. On very dry winter skin you may want something heavier at night.
Key ingredients: glycerin, dimethicone, hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), urea, amino acids.
How to use: smooth over face and neck after cleansing.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Best for: a rich, plain cream for face and body that won't cost much. Drugstore.
What we love
- Cetaphil calls it a "rich, non-greasy cream" with a "fragrance-free and paraben-free formula," and says it's "good for the face, too."
- It took the No. 1 spot of 100 moisturizers in NBC Select's ranking. Reporter Harry Rabinowitz says it "feels thick and rich as it comes out of the jar, with an aroma barely registering on my nose." (NBC notes he received a sample from the brand.)
- Accepted by the National Eczema Association, according to Cetaphil.
Keep in mind
- It contains sweet almond oil. That's an emollient, not a scent, but skip it if you avoid nut-derived ingredients.
- The tub is messy to scoop, NBC Select says.
Key ingredients: glycerin, petrolatum, niacinamide, panthenol (vitamin B5), sweet almond oil, vitamin E.
How to use: a pea-sized amount for your face, more for body.
Fragrance free moisturizer for itchy skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Best for: very dry, tight, itchy-feeling skin that reacts to almost everything. Drugstore.
What we love
- The whole ingredient list is ten items, with petrolatum second. Vanicream says it's free of fragrance and masking fragrances, with "no botanical extracts or essential oils."
- Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya tells NBC Select it has a very rich texture and is ideal for very dry skin that needs intense hydration.
- Vanicream says it's non-comedogenic and fine for your face. It carries the NEA Seal of Acceptance.
Keep in mind
- It's thick. NBC Select lists "very thick" as the drawback.
- No ceramides, as Vanicream's FAQ says. If you want them, use this over a ceramide moisturizer.
Key ingredients: petrolatum, sorbitol, glyceryl stearate.
How to use: on damp skin after washing, as often as you need. The brand says face, hands, feet and body.
If dry skin is behind the itch, the AAD says a dermatologist may recommend "generous amounts of moisturizer" along with other skin care changes. Itch has many causes, though, and a moisturizer is only one part of the answer.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Fragrance-Free
Best for: dry, mature skin that wants a firming-focused cream without the scent. Drugstore.
What we love
- Olay sells a separate fragrance-free version of this cream. The original has "very subtle florals."
- Niacinamide, panthenol and three peptides sit near the top of the list. Olay says its triple collagen peptide is for "firmer, smoother, more radiant skin."
- Former NBC Select editor Rebecca Rodriguez, who has rosacea- and eczema-prone skin, says it "was gentle." Who What Wear tester Aniyah Morinia says it "felt lightweight under my sunscreen."
Keep in mind
- Who What Wear lists "potentially irritating preservatives" as a con.
Key ingredients: glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, peptides, dimethicone.
How to use: a nickel-sized amount across your face and neck, morning or night.
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
Best for: a fragrance-free moisturizer and sunscreen in one morning step. Mid-range.
What we love
- Broad spectrum SPF 40 from zinc oxide (9.0%) and octinoxate (7.5%), according to EltaMD.
- EltaMD says its sunscreens are "fragrance-free and paraben-free," and calls this one "a sheer, lightweight sunscreen that can be used every day to hydrate."
- Petrolatum is the second ingredient, followed later by hyaluronic acid. EltaMD lists dehydrated and mature skin as what it's good for.
Keep in mind
- It isn't labeled water resistant. The AAD's dry-skin tips call for a water-resistant SPF 30+, so switch to one when you'll be sweating or swimming.
- We found no named independent review, so these details come from EltaMD.
Key ingredients: zinc oxide and octinoxate (actives); petrolatum, hyaluronic acid.
How to use: apply liberally to face and neck 15 minutes before sun exposure, as the last step after moisturizer, and reapply at least every two hours.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
Best for: a splurge cream for dry skin with no fragrance or essential oils. Splurge.
What we love
- Drunk Elephant says it's "100% free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance/dyes, and solvent alcohols."
- Three ceramides (AP, EOP and NP) plus five plant oils, including marula and baobab, according to the brand.
- Who What Wear tester Katie Berohn says its "rich, whipped texture is easy to spread and leaves skin plump and dewy."
Keep in mind
- Who What Wear warns it may be too thick for oily or combination skin.
- It's a splurge, and the drugstore creams above cover the basics for much less.
Key ingredients: ceramides AP, EOP and NP, cholesterol, glycerin, marula, baobab and other plant oils.
How to use: one pump morning and night on a clean, dry face, the brand says.
How to choose a fragrance free moisturizer for dry skin
Pick a cream over a lotion
The AAD says creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions. Look for at least one of the ingredients it lists for dry skin: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum, shea butter, jojoba oil, lanolin, mineral oil or lactic acid. Apply it while your skin is still damp.
Fragrance free face moisturizer vs body lotion
An unscented lotion made for your body isn't automatically fine for your face. A plain cream labeled for face and body, like the Cetaphil or Vanicream picks, works on both. For a whole routine built around dry skin, see our best skincare products for dry skin.
Hypoallergenic moisturizer: what the word means
Not much, legally. The FDA says there are no federal standards or definitions for "hypoallergenic," and the term "means whatever a particular company wants it to mean." Read the ingredient list instead.
Fragrance free moisturizers for dry skin: comparison
| Pick | Budget | Texture | Fragrance-free per | NEA Seal | Key ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair | Drugstore | Medium cream | NBC Select, brand listing | Not stated | Ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin |
| Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream | Drugstore | Gel-cream | Brand | Not stated | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea |
| Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream | Drugstore | Rich cream | Brand | Yes (brand) | Glycerin, petrolatum, niacinamide |
| Vanicream Moisturizing Cream | Drugstore | Very rich cream | Brand | Yes (brand) | Petrolatum, sorbitol |
| Olay Micro-Sculpting Fragrance-Free | Drugstore | Light cream | Brand, NBC Select | Not stated | Niacinamide, peptides, panthenol |
| EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40 | Mid-range | Lotion | Brand | Not stated | Zinc oxide, petrolatum, hyaluronic acid |
| Drunk Elephant Lala Retro | Splurge | Whipped cream | Brand | Not stated | Ceramides, plant oils |
FAQs
Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?
No. Fragrance-free means no fragrance was added. Unscented means the product has no noticeable smell, and the FDA says some unscented products contain a little fragrance to cover other odors. The AAD recommends products labeled fragrance-free.
What's the best fragrance free moisturizer for itchy skin?
For dry, itchy-feeling skin, a thick, plain cream such as Vanicream Moisturizing Cream is a good start, on damp skin. If you can't work out what's causing the itch, the AAD says a board-certified dermatologist can help.
Is a hypoallergenic moisturizer fragrance-free?
Not necessarily. "Hypoallergenic" has no federal definition, according to the FDA. Check for "fragrance-free" on the front and no fragrance, parfum or essential oils in the ingredient list.
Can I use a non-perfumed lotion on my face?
Often, if it's labeled for the face or non-comedogenic. Cetaphil and Vanicream both say their creams are fine for the face. "Non-perfumed" is vague, so check the ingredient list the same way.
Why does my fragrance-free moisturizer smell?
Because ingredients have their own smell. Vanicream says its products "tend to take on the smell of the ingredients." A perfume-like smell means you should check the label again.
Read the back of the box, buy the fragrance-free version, and put it on damp skin: that covers most of it.