Moisturizer Labels Misleading, Cause Allergens Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Moisturizer Labels Can Be Misleading

Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products could still have irritating allergens

Approximately 83 percent of moisturizers identified as “hypoallergenic” contained at least one potentially allergy-inducing ingredient, according to a new study. Getty Images While the label may say "fragrance-free" or "hypoallergenic," you still could be lathering your face with chemicals that could trigger an , according to a study published in this month's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Dermatology. Researchers requested the top 100 best-selling whole-body moisturizers sold online by Amazon, Target and Walmart. They then analyzed whether the ingredients could trigger allergic reactions and found that only 21 out of 174 individual products tested, or 12 percent, were free of allergens, Reuters reports.
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Fragrances and chemicals known as parabens and tocopherols were found in many moisturizers, which can irritate skin conditions such as eczema and , or cause rashes. Lead study author Steve Xu, of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Reuters that customers can’t assume that moisturizers marketed as "hypoallergenic," "fragrance-free" or even "dermatologist-recommended" will actually help skin conditions. "Trusting the labels is not enough,” Xu said. “Making sure there are as few ingredients as possible is also a good thing to double-check.”

Increased price without increased benefits

The study found that products marketed to people with skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis tended to cost more, yet they don't avoid all ingredients that could actually make their conditions worse. Approximately 83 percent of moisturizers identified as “hypoallergenic” contained at least one potentially allergy-inducing ingredient, and 45 percent of products claiming to be “fragrance-free” actually contained a fragrance or a botanical ingredient, the study found. The North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) determines whether or not a product contains typical skin . Truly allergen-free products, under their guidelines, include white petroleum jelly, cold-pressed and unrefined coconut oils, Vanicream hypoallergenic products and Aveeno Eczema Therapy moisturizing cream, according to the researchers. The three most-affordable products containing allergen-free ingredients, according to NACDG guidelines, are raw, unrefined ivory shea butter, Vaseline and Smellgood African shea butter. Xu told Health.com that dermatologists should be as specific as possible in recommending both a brand and product type to their patients that takes both price and ingredients, as well as consumer preference, into account. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS