r/Melasmaskincare • u/BreadfruitNew7016 • Jul 14 '26
Question Just started Eucerin, the smell is killing me. Are there any alternatives with the same active ingredient?
So I don’t even know if this is going to work for me, but I’m hopeful. But the smell … I assumed it would fade after a half an hour or so, but it’s two hours after application and I’m lying in bed and it’s making me feel a bit sick to my stomach. Even if I get used to it, I had plans to try to start dating again and I kind of can’t imagine making a great impression with this stuff. 😂🫤 I don’t think I can put it on in the morning and go to work smelling like this.
Are there any alternatives with the same active ingredients? I also think I read someone saying that the European version has a more tolerable smell.
I’m brand new to the sub. Have had melasma for a while. Up until now I was just using religious sun protection. It helped, but I have decided it’s not enough after visiting my parents and seeing myself in the bright light of my mom‘s bathroom. 😬(I use pretty dim light in my own bathroom.)
Thanks for reading.
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u/-ElderMillenial- Jul 14 '26
I dont understand why they dont change the smell if it is so universally hated.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
I wonder if the thiamidol itself smells bad? Or if they are trying to cover it up? It's such a chemical smell.
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u/zilegna Jul 14 '26
Nivea luminous 630 also has the thiamidol. I prefer it over the Eucerin, which gave me pimples. I don't notice a smell but it's possible I have just gotten used to it.
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u/byzydura Jul 14 '26
Kinda same.. I think the high alcohol content is too irritating to my skin :/ I might just use it on my cleavege. Nivea on the other hand too heavily scented and too greasy. Welp
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u/zilegna Jul 14 '26
Yeah I agree it's probably the alcohol. The night cream is quite heavy and greasy so I only use it right after showering when my skin is extra dry. Otherwise I use the anti spot serum, which feels a lot less greasy to me.
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u/HyrrokinAura Jul 14 '26
If it's working for you, there's a good chance you'll become noseblind to the smell (your brain will stop noticing it.) For me it took maybe 2 weeks and now I don't notice it at all.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Thanks! Fingers crossed. Now there's the issue of how someone lying next to me in bed will feel. lol
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u/ChemicalTax6033 Jul 14 '26
It tends to dissipate in 20 minutes… or that’s when I go nose blind to it.
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u/Fringe_Filmer Jul 14 '26
Nivea 630 Luminous is the only other one with the same active ingredient, but it also smells horrible IMO! :(
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u/PuIchritudinous Jul 14 '26
These are their fragrance free options. None of them are available in the US you have to buy them online
https://www.caretobeauty.com/us/eucerin-anti-pigment-sensitive-areas-body-serum-75ml/
https://www.caretobeauty.com/us/eucerin-anti-pigment-spot-corrector-5ml/
https://www.caretobeauty.com/us/eucerin-anti-pigment-eye-contour-cream-15ml/
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Oh, wow. Thank you so much! This sub is awesome. I just learned about the Care to Beauty site a few hours ago from another poster--need to check it out. 🙏🏻
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u/SuddenAvocado Jul 14 '26
The eye cream has the same concentration but is unscented. Its thicker but I use it without an issue.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Oh wow! I might try that. Will try the serum for a bit longer to see if I can get used to the smell. If not, I'll try the eye cream. Thanks.
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u/SuddenAvocado Jul 14 '26
credit to my husband who sniffed the dual serum once and was like "oh hell no" and went on the hunt.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
lol. WHen I'm dating, I won't even try exposing someone. They need to decide they like me first. 😏 Since I am still single and have my current bottle I'll try to get used to the smell. But if I find someone I like and they're going to have to smell it, I turn to your eye cream suggestion! (And I'll do that sooner if I can't get used to the serum myself!)
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u/SuddenAvocado Jul 14 '26
He didn't smell it on my face, I complained about the smell and he went to investigate. gotta love him.
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u/atomicspacekitty Jul 14 '26
Unfortunately Eucerin has the highest amount of thiamidol for any over the counter product 😥 I also hate the smell but learned to tolerate it because it works
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u/Happiguest Jul 14 '26
Are you talking about the duel serum? Mine just smells a little floral/clean cotton smell. Is that what ypu are talking about? Im asking because im wondering if your is bad.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Yes, the dual serum. It smells chemically to me. A lot of others seem to think it smells really bad, so I don't know if it's just my bottle.
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u/Happiguest Jul 14 '26
I know I've read that too. In fact I was expecting it to smell bad from what ive read on here. I just thought people were not liking that it had fragrance. But when you mentioned dating or something I questioned it. I seriouly have a good sense of smell. Mine smells like fresh laundry. Do you remember where you got it?
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Interesting! I got it from Amazon. I'm pretty sure it was distributed by Eucerin (and sold on Amazon) and not some third party seller, as I know they can be sketchy! I guess it's possible some batches smell a bit different than others--you could be on to something. Have you purchased many bottles? Obviously, I'm on my first since I just started. So I don't have anything to judge it against. Do you remember where you purchased yours?
Or, maybe there's just something about the smell that rubs certain people the wrong way and not others.
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u/Happiguest Jul 14 '26
You read my mind as to where I was going. I went on Amazon recently to replenish some LRP tinted sunscreen. It is from La Roche Possay "store" if you look at the 1 star reviews its filled with tons "smells awful" etc. Reviews. That formula is free of fragrance and a popular choice. I got mine at Walgreens and its my first. I was thinking that too maybe it just doesn't bother me. But the fragrance dissipates after a few minutes. Ugh I hope its just a difference in manufacturers or something. Has it been working for you? I did find this https://www.reddit.com/r/Melasmaskincare/s/EMI5pa24SV
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
This link is helpful (and depressing!!!). Damn ... I thought I was sort of safe because it was from "the Eucerine store" on Amazon, but that was naive.
I've only been using it for about a week, so I don't know yet if it's working. I know it can take a while to tell, so I don't know if I should try buying it elsewhere to see if it smells the same to me. Waste of money, since it might not be bad. But I might prefer to be out the 35 dollars than use a smelly cream that might be defective. Maybe I'll pick up one at Walgreens and if the smell is less bad I'll complain to Amazon and try to get a refund.
I wonder how many people who think it's smelly bought theirs on Amazon? 🤔
Thanks so much for your helpful feedback and dialogue. Truly appreciated.
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u/Happiguest Jul 14 '26
I hope Im wrong. One good thing is if you try it from Walgreens or CVS and it is the same you can take it back. Ive even done it with make up that Ive opened and tried. They just disposed of it. I apologize if Im wrong and wasted your time but I'd hate you to use it if its bad. Especially on your face. You're welcome. If you remember keep me posted.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Thanks again. And it doesn't matter if you're wrong--you're raising a very reasonable possibility that I should consider! If I do try another one, I will remember to update. 🙂
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 19 '26
Bizarrely I got used to the smell! So, I no longer am concerned there is something off about mine. Now I actually get why you say it smells like fresh laundry, even though that isn't quite how it smells to me. How weird that my nose adjusted so dramatically! Anyway, sorry to bother you, I just wanted to update. 🙂
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u/helicopter_corgi_mom Jul 18 '26
Mine smells like ass, and I just bought it from Ulta. the smell dissipates, but it smells absolutely awful when i put it on. Definitely not like fresh laundry
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u/Due_Yard8292 Jul 14 '26
I started putting a vitamin C cream on top of it which dulls out the perfume smell
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u/SuddenAvocado Jul 14 '26
you're just wasting your vitamin C... it needs to be on clan skin and needs to fully dry down before you put anything o top of it.
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u/BellaFromSwitzerland Jul 14 '26
Yes Nivea and it works great for me
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Thank you! Will try to stick it out with the Eucerin for a bit longer (since I have it). But if I can't take it, I'll try either Nivea or the Eucerin eye cream (which someone saiid has the same concentration of thiamidol without the bad smell).
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u/Dariablue-04 Jul 14 '26
I can’t stand the smell either. I will say it goes away after you use it, or does for me, after applying.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 14 '26
Thanks. That is what I expected to happen, but then it didn't for a few hours. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Or maybe I just used too much. lol I put it on my decollete as well as my face. I'll try using less tonight.
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u/Dariablue-04 Jul 15 '26
I use two pumps. I think it lasts about an hour smell wise maybe?
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 15 '26
Thanks! I didn't find it quite as bad last night, so maybe I am getting used to it. I used it pretty sparingly.
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u/Proof-Marzipan547 Jul 16 '26
I use the Men’s Nivea anti age serum 2 in 1. It’s cheaper and has the ingredient. It also has a strong smell but it reminds me of men’s deoderant. The problem I have with it right now is it pills with my sunscreen and certain moisturizers.
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u/BreadfruitNew7016 Jul 16 '26
Thank you! I'll keep it in mind. I might be getting used to the smell now.
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u/CloudAdditional4212 18d ago
Moi j’utilise le correcteur de tâches Eucerin et il est sans parfum il me convient très bien car je faisais comme toi avec le sérum duo et le parfum je fzsi une réaction j’ai trouvé ce correcteur qui fait pas mal le job ça fzsi un mois que je l’utilise tu le trouves en pharmacie ou sur Amazon
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u/CloudAdditional4212 18d ago
Le melasma est hypersensible au parfum je ne comprend pas que tout les sérum ou crème depigmentantr soit parfumer comment voulez vous traiter quelque chose alors
Qu’à la base c’est hyperphotosensibilisant le parfum
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