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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm versus Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray .

Published on July 28, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe styling creams & sprays. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, fragrances, oils and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Styling Creams & Spray American Brand United States
Styling Creams & Spray American Brand United States

Styling Creams & Spray

Cream and spray products that help style hair. Some spray products include blowout sprays and sea-salt sprays.

Styling Creams & Spray

Cream and spray products that help style hair. Some spray products include blowout sprays and sea-salt sprays.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Rosacea
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 1.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 3.

2
What it does: Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil comes from the seabuckthorn plant. It is rich in tocopherols, tocotrienols, and plant sterols.

This oil is rich in fatty acids, including: two types of linoleic acid (~30-34%), oleic acid (17%), and palmiteic acid (35%). Note these numbers are averages, and different parts of the plant will vary.

Palmitoleic acid has been shown to help soothe inflammation and promote wound healing. It is also naturally found in the fat of our skin.

Learn more about Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 4.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 7.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 16.

We don't have a description for Hydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 9.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 18.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.

Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.

As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.

Learn more about Phenyl Trimethicone

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 12.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 11.

6
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 18.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 12.

7
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

Microcrystalline Wax is created by de-oiling petroleum. It is highly refined and purified before being added to cosmetics.

Microcrystalline Wax is used to enhance the texture and create even consistency. It helps stabilize a product by preventing ingredients from separating.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 20.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 19.

8
What it does: Perfuming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Paraffin is a solid created from petroleum. The term 'paraffin' can also refer to either petroleum Jelly or mineral oil.

It has natural occlusive properties which can worsen oily skin. Due to its petrolatum base, this ingredient is not fungal-acne safe.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 21.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 20.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 22.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 23.

10
What it does: Abrasive
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.

Polyethylene is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 23.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 21.

11
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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 Parfum

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 24.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 26.

12
What it does: Antimicrobial, Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.

As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.

Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.

Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.

Learn more about Benzyl Benzoate

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 25.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 27.

13
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Hydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".

Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 26.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 28.

14
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term '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.

Learn more about Limonene

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 27.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 29.

15
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".

Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.

Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.

Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,

Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.

Learn more about Citronellol

Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm contains this as ingredient number 28.

Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray contains this as ingredient number 30.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

14% are loved or liked
3% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
24% have no rating yet
7% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
67% are disliked or very disliked
20% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 5 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Balm.

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We haven't detected any alternatives for Amika The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray.

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