Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream - US Versus Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm
Updated on July 26, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe styling creams & sprays. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream 38 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream 38 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Ceteth-20
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
PEG-75
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
HumectantLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentSilk Amino Acids
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Parfum, Ceteth-20, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycol Stearate, Petrolatum, PEG-75, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinCeteareth-20 is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. It is derived from cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol.
As an emulsifier, Ceteareth-20 prevents oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant. Surfactants help gather oil, pollution, and dirt to be washed away.
Parfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Persea 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 OilOlea Europaea Fruit Oil is the fixed oil obtained from the ripe fruit of the Olive. In other words - olive oil.
The primary contents of olive oil are glycerides of the fatty acids linoleic, oleic and palmitic.
Olive oil also contains antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Antioxidants may help reduce signs of aging by fighting unstable free-radical molecules. It also contains Vitamins A (retinol), D, and K.
The squalene in olive oil makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by trapping moisture in. This makes olive oil a great skin moisturizer.
Studies show olive oil to have antibacterial and antifungal properties in low concentrations. Another study found olive oil irritated sensitive oily skin. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilSage leaf extract is a culinary and medicinal herb with antibacterial, antioxidant, and soothing properties.
This ingredient is made up of 75-90% ursolic acid, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream 38 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream 38 ingredients
BEWARE IT MAKES UR PRECIOUS CURLS FALL OUT. I LOST SO MUCH HAIR FROM THIS PRODUCT LINE.
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
I have fine wavy hair and this leave-in is way too heavy and tick for me. I needed to mix a bit of water to dilute it and be able to spread it and detangle my hair. Most of the times it weighted down and left my hair dirty after one day of use. However, I found an use case for it when I used heat tools to straighten my hair - in these cases my hair looked protected, soft and with volume.
