Skincare
Best Fragrance-Free Moisturiser UK (2026): 10 Unscented Picks With Ingredient Lists Checked
Quick answer
The best fragrance-free moisturiser for most UK buyers with oily or combination skin is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid, with ten ingredients and no parfum or essential oils. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is the best value at £17, while Avène Tolerance Control and Vichy Mineral 89 Fragrance-Free suit drier, reactive skin.
Our picks
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid
La Roche-Posay
- • Ten-ingredient formula
- • Fragrance-free
Honest caveat: At 40ml it is pricey per millilitre, and the very light texture may not be enough on its own in winter.
Amazon · La Roche-Posay
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion
CeraVe
- • Fragrance-free
- • Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
Honest caveat: Despite the ’PM’ name it is fine in the morning, but it has no SPF, so a separate sunscreen is still needed.
CeraVe
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream
CeraVe
- • Fragrance-free
- • Matte finish with corn starch and silica
Honest caveat: It contains isopropyl myristate, an ingredient that scores high on older pore-clogging tests; those tests were done on rabbit ears and do not map neatly onto human skin, but it is worth knowing.
Amazon · CeraVe
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Moisturiser
La Roche-Posay
- • Fragrance-free
- • Squalane, shea butter and niacinamide
Honest caveat: Shea butter and isocetyl stearate make it richer than the Dermallergo fluid, so oily skin may prefer that one.
Amazon · La Roche-Posay
Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser
Cetaphil
- • Fragrance-free
- • Hydroxyethyl urea and hyaluronic acid
Honest caveat: It contains cyclopentasiloxane (a silicone) and soybean oil, which some people prefer to avoid, and the small 88ml tube is pricier per millilitre than Cetaphil’s lotion.
Amazon · Cetaphil
Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm
Avène
- • Fragrance-free
- • Short ingredient list
Honest caveat: Beeswax and shea make it rich, so on oily skin it is better kept for patches of irritation than used all over.
Amazon · Avène
Vichy Mineral 89 100H Rich Cream Fragrance-Free
Vichy
- • Labelled fragrance-free
- • Squalane, shea, niacinamide
Honest caveat: The ’100H’ hydration figure is the brand’s own claim, and the rich texture is wrong for oily skin.
Vichy
Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream
Green People
- • No fragrance or essential oils
- • COSMOS Organic certified
Honest caveat: Organic certification describes how ingredients are farmed and processed, not how well the cream suits your skin, and the plant oils make it rich for oily faces. Anti-ageing percentages quoted by the brand are its own claims.
Amazon · Green People
Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion
Cetaphil
- • Fragrance-free
- • Glycerin, panthenol, niacinamide
Honest caveat: Isopropyl palmitate and avocado oil make it better suited to the body or drier skin than to an oily, blackhead-prone face.
Amazon · Cetaphil
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Cream
Aveeno
- • No parfum listed
- • Colloidal oat and shea
Honest caveat: Isopropyl myristate is high in the list, so keep it for the body rather than an oily face.
Aveeno
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links. How we choose ›
How strong is the research? What our grades mean ›
- Strong research
- Independent certification or lab data for the specific claim.
- Promising research
- The material is well supported, but there is no product-level testing.
- Early research
- Little independent research.
- Mixed research
- Research findings disagree.
- £
- Under £20
- ££
- £20 to £79
- £££
- £80+
What is the best fragrance-free moisturiser in the UK?
We checked the full ingredient list of each moisturiser on a live UK retailer page and kept only those with no "parfum", "fragrance" or essential oils. The best all-rounder for oily or combination skin is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid, with just ten ingredients. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion is the best value, and drier skin types have good fragrance-free options from Avène, Vichy and Green People.
Our picks at a glance
| Product | Best for | Material/key feature | Price | Evidence grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid | Oily, sensitive skin | 10 ingredients, light fluid | £23.00 | Moderate |
| CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion | Best value, pairs with actives | Ceramides, niacinamide | £17.00 | Moderate |
| CeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream | Matte finish for oily skin | Starch and silica, niacinamide | £17.00 | Moderate |
| La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Moisturiser | Combination sensitive skin | Squalane, shea, niacinamide | £23.00 | Moderate |
| Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser | Light everyday lotion | Hydroxyethyl urea, hyaluronic acid | £16.50 | Moderate |
| Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm | Very reactive or over-dried skin | Short list, rich balm | £21.95 | Moderate |
| Vichy Mineral 89 100H Rich Cream Fragrance-Free | Dry or mature skin | Squalane, shea | £25.00 | Moderate |
| Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream | Certified organic | COSMOS Organic, no essential oils | £28.00 | Moderate |
| Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion | Budget face and body | Glycerin, panthenol | £11.50 | Moderate |
| Aveeno Daily Moisturising Cream | Body, dry skin | Colloidal oat, 400ml | £12.99 | Moderate |
How we chose
- No parfum, fragrance or essential oils on the INCI list, checked on a live UK page in October 2026. "Unscented" on the front is not enough: some unscented products contain masking fragrance, which must still appear as "parfum".
- Skin type fit. We flag heavier oils and esters (such as isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate) that people with oily, blackhead-prone skin may want to avoid on the face.
- Breadth. Several brands and textures from about £11 to £28.
Why choose a fragrance-free moisturiser?
Fragrance ingredients are among the most common triggers of allergic skin reactions. The EU's scientific committee identified a long list of fragrance allergens of concern (SCCS opinion on fragrance allergens), and a five-country European study of the general population found that exposure to scented leave-on products was associated with fragrance allergy, with sensitive skin a relevant indicator (EDEN Fragrance Study). A moisturiser stays on your skin all day, so it is a sensible place to remove fragrance. The NHS advises checking ingredients for allergens and swapping products that irritate (NHS, contact dermatitis).
Fragrance-free vs unscented: what is the difference?
- Fragrance-free should mean no fragrance ingredients have been added for scent.
- Unscented can mean a masking fragrance was added to cover the base smell.
Neither term is legally defined, so the ingredient list is the only reliable check. Look for "parfum", "fragrance", "aroma", essential oils (for example Lavandula angustifolia oil, Citrus limon peel oil) and named allergens such as linalool, limonene, citral and geraniol. The EU has expanded the list of fragrance allergens that must be named on labels (Regulation (EU) 2023/1545), which makes these easier to spot.
Which moisturiser texture suits oily skin?
Oily skin still needs a moisturiser, especially if you use salicylic acid or retinoids. Choose fluids, lotions and gel-creams. The NHS and AAD both suggest non-comedogenic products, meaning designed not to clog pores (NHS; AAD). Old comedogenicity ratings come from rabbit-ear tests that do not translate neatly to human faces, so treat them as a rough guide, but it is reasonable to avoid rich butters and heavy esters high in the list if you get blackheads.
The best fragrance-free moisturisers in detail
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid: best overall
Ten ingredients: water, a light triglyceride, glycerin, two humectant glycols, niacinamide and a gel former. No fragrance, no butters. Caveat: £23 for 40ml is expensive per millilitre, and it may feel too light in winter.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion: best value
A light, fragrance-free lotion with three ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, widely used alongside acids and retinoids. Caveat: no SPF, so add a separate sunscreen in the morning.
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturising Gel-Cream: best matte finish
Corn starch and silica absorb surface oil, with niacinamide and ceramides and no fragrance. Caveat: it contains isopropyl myristate, which some blackhead-prone people prefer to avoid.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Moisturiser: best for combination skin
Squalane, shea and niacinamide in a fragrance-free cream. Caveat: richer than the Dermallergo Fluid; very oily skin may find it heavy.
Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Moisturiser: light alternative
A quick-absorbing face lotion with hydroxyethyl urea and hyaluronic acid. Caveat: contains a silicone (cyclopentasiloxane) and soybean oil, and the 88ml tube costs more per millilitre than Cetaphil's lotion.
Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm: best for reactive skin
A short list built for skin that reacts to nearly everything. Caveat: beeswax and shea make it rich, so on oily skin keep it for dry or irritated patches.
Vichy Mineral 89 100H Rich Cream Fragrance-Free: best for dry skin
Proof that big brands make fragrance-free versions of popular creams. Caveat: the "100H" hydration figure is the brand's own claim, and the texture is too rich for oily faces.
Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream: best certified organic
No fragrance or essential oils and certified to COSMOS Organic, which is unusual because many organic creams rely on essential oils for scent. Caveat: organic certification covers farming and processing, not skin suitability, and sunflower oil high in the list makes it rich for oily skin.
Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion and Aveeno Daily Moisturising Cream: budget body options
Both are fragrance-free and cheap per millilitre. Caveat: Cetaphil contains isopropyl palmitate and avocado oil, and Aveeno contains isopropyl myristate, so we would use them on the body rather than an oily, blackhead-prone face.
Do "hypoallergenic" or "dermatologist tested" mean fragrance-free?
No. Neither phrase has a legal definition in UK cosmetics law, and both appear on products that list parfum. "Dermatologist tested" usually means a small patch test was supervised by a dermatologist; it does not tell you how many people took part or what the results were. "Hypoallergenic" is the brand's own judgement. The only reliable check is the ingredient list, so treat these phrases as a starting point at most.
How should I use a moisturiser with acids or retinoids?
If you use salicylic acid or a retinoid in the evening, apply it to clean, dry skin and follow with moisturiser once it has absorbed. On nights when skin feels tight or stings, skip the active and use moisturiser alone. In the morning, apply moisturiser before a mineral sunscreen, and give it a minute to settle so the sunscreen spreads evenly. Fragrance-free products matter more here, because skin using actives is more easily irritated.
What to avoid
- "Sensitive" or "anti-blemish" products that still list parfum. Bioderma's Sebium Hydra, sold for acne-prone skin, lists "Fragrance (Parfum)".
- "Natural" moisturisers scented with essential oils. Essential oils contain the same allergens (linalool, limonene, citral) as synthetic fragrance.
- Front-of-pack claims without a full ingredient list. If a retailer does not show the INCI, check the brand site or the box before buying.
Bottom line
Read the back, not the front. For oily or blackhead-prone skin, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid is our top fragrance-free moisturiser and CeraVe PM is the best value. For dry or reactive skin, Avène Tolerance Control and Vichy Mineral 89 Fragrance-Free are rich, unscented options, and Green People is the pick if you want certified organic without essential oils.
Frequently asked questions
Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?
+
Not always. Fragrance-free should mean no fragrance ingredients were added for scent, while unscented can mean a masking fragrance was added to hide the base smell. Neither term is legally defined in the UK, so check the ingredient list for parfum, fragrance, aroma, essential oils and named allergens such as linalool or limonene.
Why does fragrance matter in a moisturiser?
+
Fragrance ingredients are a leading trigger of allergic contact dermatitis, and European population research links exposure to scented leave-on products with fragrance allergy. A moisturiser stays on your skin for hours, so removing fragrance there lowers your overall exposure more than removing it from a rinse-off product.
What moisturiser should I use for oily, blackhead-prone skin?
+
Choose a light, fragrance-free fluid, lotion or gel-cream, and avoid rich butters or heavy esters such as isopropyl myristate high in the list. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Fluid and CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion are good starting points, and both pair well with salicylic acid or retinoids.
Are organic or natural moisturisers fragrance-free?
+
Often not. Many natural and organic creams are scented with essential oils, which contain the same allergens as synthetic fragrance. Organic certification such as COSMOS covers how ingredients are farmed and processed, not whether a product is fragrance-free. Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream is one certified organic option with no essential oils.
Do I need a moisturiser if my skin is oily?
+
Usually yes, especially if you use salicylic acid or a retinoid, which can dry and irritate. A light, fragrance-free moisturiser helps keep the skin barrier comfortable so you can keep using the treatments that clear blackheads. If your skin feels comfortable without one, a moisturiser is optional, but daily SPF is not.
Last updated