I talk a lot about my skin on this little blog of mine and on my social media; in case you didn't know, I have suffered from eczema for my entire life and last year I was diagnosed with allergies to MI/MCI and Balsam of Peru. The latter is a bit of a tricky one, as it doesn't need to be explicitly labelled in ingredient lists - it is hidden under the labels 'fragrance' or 'parfum'.
Typically, this means I don't use fragranced products. I'll caveat that by saying I do use perfume (sprayed on my clothes, not my skin) and I will use fragranced hair products like serums after washing my hair, so it's not running down onto my skin.
All of that being said, one brand you will *always* find in my bathroom is Simple. I love that their products are fragrance free, and they're really affordable - a lot of fragrance free skincare and haircare is expensive or hard to get hold of. I thought I would do a rundown of all the Simple Skincare products I've tried, what I think of them and so on. Without further ado...
Simple Shampoo and Conditioner
I pick these up in Home Bargains and they're less than £2 each, officially making them the cheapest fragrance free shampoo and conditioner I've ever been able to find. Let's face it, they are basic. They really don't do much for my hair beyond keeping it clean; I do find my hair is quite dry and dull, though I recently got it all chopped off so it's a lot healthier now! But this doesn't irritate my scalp and I don't need to worry about it running off onto my skin and causing a reaction, which is great.
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash
Again this is a very basic product, but it cleans my skin without irritating it or leaving it feeling dry/tight. You can get a 50ml version of this which is perfect for hand luggage-only travel, and it's great if you're looking for something that just gets the job done.
Simple Vital Vitamin Cream
I bought this on a whim when I unexpectedly had to stay away from home one night, and I actually quite liked it; it's very thick, bordering on greasy but not actually greasy. It sinks in quickly and feels really nourishing - it also doesn't irritate my skin which is always a winner! The SPF factor isn't really doing much with this one, but it's a good moisturiser nevertheless.
Simple Smoothing Gel Cleanser
This is my FAVOURITE Simple Skincare product of all time. I actually picked this up in Home Bargains for super cheap and I wish I'd stocked up but I didn't know if I'd like it or not. As it is, I love it; it doesn't irritate my skin or leaving it feeling dry and tight. Instead, it feels clean and refreshed as well as soft and smooth. It's completely fragrance free, of course, but does contain lactic and hyaluronic acids which are packed with benefits.
Simple Refreshing Shower Gel
As shower gels go, this is fine! Of course it's unscented which is fairly boring, but it lathers well with a loofah and cleanses as it should. You can get this in huge bottles which last for ages, too.
Simple Sensitive Bath Soak
This was the first bubble bath I used after getting my diagnosis and chucking away all my Lush bubble bars - and honestly I nearly cried with joy, as it felt so much more luxurious than bathing in plain water. That aside, it really is just a fragrance free bubble bath
Simple Refreshing Bath Soak
This isn't much different to the Sensitive Bath Soak - it bubbles up loads, and a little goes a long way with both. However I do prefer the look of this one on the side of the bath... it's the little things!
Simple Invisible UV Fluid with SPF 50
This goes on beautifully; it's thin and lightweight, sinking in quickly. It also has high SPF protection which is brilliant. My skin, however, doesn't love it. I found myself quite sore and dry after using this which is a real shame but I definitely plan to give it another go in a couple of months time, as I never like to disregard a product after one use in case it was a coincidence.
Simple Pure Soap Bar
I'm really not a bar soap girly, but these are really cheap, cheerful and easy to get hold of - plus they're better for the environment and last for absolutely ages, so it's swings and roundabouts really. They're good to have on hand and great for travel, too. Again, Simple bar soap doesn't irritate or dry out my skin, it's just a bit boring...
So that's all of the Simple products I've tried over the past two years since my fragrance allergy diagnosis. I'm always keen to try more products from this budget-friendly fragrance free skincare brand, so keep your eyes peeled and let me know in the comments if you've tried anything from Simple!
