Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Reparative Conditioner Versus Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
MaskingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningMauritia Flexuosa Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocoyl Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein
Parfum
MaskingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Mauritia Flexuosa Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, Parfum, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientHydrolyzed Oat Flour
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingLaurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Flexuosus Herb Extract
PerfumingThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCinnamal
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Herb Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract is from a plant called the Marsh Mallow plant. This plant is indigenous to Europe, West Asia, and North Africa.
Marsh Mallow root is an emollient and antioxidant. It helps sooth and soften the skin. When applied to the skin, it blocks enzymes that break down hyaluronic acid.
The marshmallow we eat today is based on an ancient Egyptian dessert made from this plant (Marshmallows do not contain this plant anymore).
Learn more about Althaea Officinalis Root ExtractBehentrimonium Methosulfate is an ammonium salt. It is mainly used to prevent static in haircare products as a surfactant.
Surfactants have differing ends: one side is hydrophilic while the other end is hydrophobic.
Surfactants also help your cleansers remove pollutants more easily from the skin.
Learn more about Behentrimonium MethosulfateThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis botanical extract is also known as horsetail extract. It mainly acts as an emollient, skin soother, and astringent.
A study from 2023 found compounds in Equisetum Arvense showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in irritated keratinocytes (the main cell in your outermost layer of skin).
Another study using a cream with horsetail and soybean extract found 80% of participants showed at least a 26% improvement in forehead wrinkles after 8 weeks.
Animal research has shown topical Equisetum Arvense stimulated skin and tissue growth in mice.
The research so far is encouraging, but still in its early days. But it's a lovely supporting ingredient and can be a welcome addition to any routine.
Learn more about Equisetum Arvense ExtractPersea Gratissima Oil is also known as avocado oil.
Avocado Oil has antioxidant properties. It is mostly made up of the glycerides of fatty acids. About 67% of these fatty acids is made up of oleic acid. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are also present.
These fatty acids help hydrate and soften the skin. It may increase collagen content in the skin. Collagen helps keep your skin plump and firm. This ingredient helps reduce inflammation and has not shown to clog pores.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe due to its high fatty acid content.
Avocados also have B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water