Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner Versus Kérastase Specifique Bain Divalent Balancing Shampoo
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caviar Extract
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Amodimethicone
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acetate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetic Acid
BufferingGlycereth-26
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4
HumectantIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isododecane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caviar Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Jojoba Esters, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Phospholipids, Superoxide Dismutase, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Amodimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Polysilicone-15, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Glycereth-26, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4, Isopentyldiol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tea-Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingPolyquaternium-11
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Fumaric Acid
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tea-Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamide Mipa, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryloyl Glycine, Polyquaternium-11, Salicylic Acid, Carbomer, Pyridoxine Hcl, Menthoxypropanediol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Fumaric Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
