Many people do wonder if perfumes are safe for use on the skin. Yes, perfumes are 100% safe for use on the skin! However, there are certain mistakes one could do while applying perfumes, which could potentially damage his or her skin.
There are a few guidelines to follow when one wears perfumes in order to avoid any risks of skin damage.
Here are some of them:
1. Apply perfumes on pulse points.
A perfume is a mixture of oils and alcohol. A bottle of perfume contains fragrance oils that are either chemically formulated or obtained from natural sources. These oils are then diluted with alcohol that is medical grade and certified to be 100% safe on the skin. The actual perfume is found in the oils. The function of the alcohol is to preserve these oils, as well as help in projection and spillage.
Inherently, perfumes are made for the skin. They are dermatologically tested and clinically certified before production.
However, one could go wrong in choosing an area of the skin for the application of perfumes. Remember that alcohol could be dangerous when used on certain sensitive areas of the skin. Also, the alcohol evaporates. So if you’re going to spray perfume on your armpit right after a shower, you’ll not be leaving any room for the alcohol to evaporate. Most likely, you’d end up bruising the sensitive skin under your arm.
Perfumes are meant to be used on the pulse points of the skin on the body. A pulse point is an area on your skin with mostly constant blood flow. That means that such an area is hotter than other areas on your skin, and more heat means greater evaporation. This way, the alcohol will evaporate faster, and also help project your perfume, creating a fragrant bubble of scent around you.
The wrists, both sides of the neck, behind the ears, inside the elbows, and behind the knees are some of the major pulse points on the body to start with.
2. Use a moisturizer for sensitive skin.
Alcohol tends to dry and could cause allergy rashes, or redness. If you have sensitive skin, there are chances you’d experience these symptoms from the first application of perfumes. Some persons with normal skin may take longer.
The obvious solution is moisturizing the skin. Use a non-scented high-quality moisturizer on your skin, especially when you intend to spray your perfume. Apply a moisturizer, wait for a couple of minutes and then spritz away!
In fact, your perfume will blend with the oils in your moisturizer and last much longer.
Well, if you still feel paranoid about using perfumes on your skin, you can use them on your hair(Note, on the hair, and not on the scalp).
3. Do not rub.
We all have an unconscious habit while applying fragrances. We spray and then rub our wrists together, trying to somehow boost the effectiveness of the perfume.
Rubbing alcohol harshly on the skin can cause bruising and tenderness. Alcohol is a volatile chemical that will evaporate on its own. Just spray your perfume and go your way.
4. Store your perfumes well.
Yes, you may not have guessed it but your perfumes can actually get worse. The top reason for perfumes going bad is actually storage. Never store your perfumes in hot and humid conditions such as directly in sunlight or on the shower counter. Store them in a cool and dark place.
Spoilt perfume could contain harmful chemicals that can damage the skin. Also, try to finish your perfume bottle within three years from the date of purchase.
On the whole, just remember to moisturize the skin and apply perfumes to pulse points. Once this is done, there is really nothing to worry about. Perfumes are inherently developed to suit the most sensitive of skins. However, if you are allergic to perfumes, or certain ingredients used in a bottle, be careful to go through labels and avoid them where necessary. Do not be paranoid to use perfumes because they are an integral part of your personality!
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