When it comes to skin, body and hair care, at UpCircle we’re firmly of the opinion that using natural ingredients is always best. Not only are natural ingredients in these products better for the planet, they’re also better for the user as they don’t expose them to any harsh chemicals, such as sulphates.

As more and more people are making an effort to learn about what is actually in their skin and hair care products, the debate of fragranced versus fragrance-free grows. Find out if fragrance-free is better for your skin and hair, and all about our fan-favourite fragrance-free UpCircle products. 

What is fragrance-free skin care and hair care? 

Fragrance free products are formulated without using synthetic fragrance, natural fragrance or masking agents to add scent to or alter the scent of a product to make it more pleasant. 

Is fragrance-free better for skin and hair?

Fragrance-free products are better for both the person using them and the planet. From fragrance-free shampoos to unscented night creams, continuous innovation means that there are more fragrance-free products available now than ever before. 

Contact allergens and sensitisers

Contact allergens are ingredients that a person is sensitive to, and trigger an immune response, often appearing as a skin rash. Sensitivity often mimics irritation – with symptoms such as red, itchy skin – and can be difficult to deal with. 

Various studies have shown that some fragrances are contact allergens, expressing differing degrees of sensitising potency. Using a weight of evidence (WoE) approach to set potency categories for frequently used fragrances, one study categorised six fragrances as strong sensitisers, 23 as moderate, and 41 as weak sensitisers.

By using fragrance-free skin and hair care products in your daily life, you are eliminating a potential sensitiser from your routine. These products are milder on the skin and hair, and less likely to cause irritation. 

Synthetic fragrances and the environment

Products that use synthetic fragrances to improve its scent are harmful to the environment. These fragrances are often made from petrochemical derivatives – for example petroleum or coal tar – and contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. Some synthetic fragrances also include the endocrine-disruptors phthalates which can mimic, block or interfere with the body’s hormones.

Fragrance-free skin care with UpCircle

As a brand, all of the ingredients we use are COSMOS-approved and free from SLS, SLEs, parabens, phthalates, parfum or sulphates. In addition, many of the ingredients we use are upcycled and given a new lease of life. 

We pride ourselves on our certified vegan fragrance-free skin care range, delivering a full skincare routine without compromising on ethics.

1. Cleanse, tone and moisturise your skin

The first step in your skincare routine is to cleanse your skin of any impurities, makeup and traces of dirt. Opt for an oil-based cleanser as the first step of your double cleanse to effectively target makeup, pollution and surface-level traces of dirt. Then use a cleansing bar or water-based cleanser to remove debris and pollution that may not be visible to the naked eye. 

• Cleansing Face Balm with Oat Oil & Vitamin E – multi-award winning and dermatologically approved, this balm is rich in antioxidants to fight free radical damage.
• Cleansing Face Milk with Oat Powder & Aloe Vera – restoring the skin’s moisture barrier, this everyday vegan facial cleanser leaves the skin buttery soft.

Top tip – grab both fragrance-free cleansers at a discounted price with our Double Cleansing Bundle.  

Next, spritz your skin with a fragrance-free toner to help revitalise the skin. Our fan-favourite Face Toner with Hyaluronic Acid is formulated with the anti-inflammatory residual water of green mandarin fruit, a by-product of the juicing industry, and skin-soothing chamomile stem extract, a by-product of the tea industry.

Using a fragrance-free moisturiser is an essential step in your skincare routine, adding a hit of much needed hydration back into the skin. At UpCircle, we’ve formulated several different moisturisers to be used for different purposes. 

• Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid & Coffee – formulated with hyaluronic acid and coffee, this fragrance-free eye cream brightens, refreshes and renews the skin.
• Face Moisturiser with Vitamin E – rich in argan powder and skin-soothing cocoa butter, this moisturiser is best used each morning. 
• Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide – unscented, this nourishing night cream is formulated with skin-replenishing niacinamide and repurposed blueberry extract.

Top tip – choose our Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise Bundle to get our cleansing balm, face toner and moisturiser at a discounted price. 

2. Use a nourishing oil

It’s time to lock in the moisture you’ve added to your skin by using a vegan face oil, which works through occlusion. Multi-award winning and certified organic, our Face Oil with Coffee Extract is formulated with naturally-occurring caffeine, sea buckthorn oil and also vitamin C. 

3. Add SPF every single day

SPF shouldn’t just be reserved for the sunny summer days – it’s an essential for every single day. Rain or shine, harmful UV rays can still reach your skin. Using a broad spectrum mineral SPF that’s packed with skin-loving ingredients such as sunflower oil and aloe vera will help to protect your skin each and every day. 

Fragrance-free hair care with UpCircle

For a fragrance-free hair shampoo that nourishes the scalp and is suitable for all hair types, try our award-winning Shampoo Crème. Delivering three times the amount of washes as a traditional liquid shampoo, this natural shampoo is highly concentrated. 

Formulated with carefully curated ingredients such as rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) leaf oil, coconut (Cocos Nucifera) fruit oil and among others, lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) flower oil, this product helps to maintain the scalp barrier and strengthen your locks. 

• Rosemary leaf oil – protects against free radical damage to the hair and scalp, helping to prevent hair weathering.
• Coconut fruit oil – deeply nourishes both the hair strands and the scalp, helping to prevent frizz and breakages.  
• Lavender flower oil – helps to increase circulation to the hair follicles, encouraging healthy hair growth.

Fragrance-free natural hair products work just as well – if not better – than haircare with added fragrance to improve the scent of the formula, helping to care for your scalp and locks. 

Shop our full collection of fragrance-free skincare and haircare.