Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream

Versus

Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream Versus L'Oreal Elvital Dream Length No Haircut Cream

Styling Creams & Spray

American Brand

French Brand

Updated on October 23, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe styling creams & sprays. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, 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.

New Comparison

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream 51 ingredients

L'Oreal Elvital Dream Length No Haircut Cream 31 ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream 51 ingredients

L'Oreal Elvital Dream Length No Haircut Cream 31 ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient

2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Skin Conditioning

Parfum

Masking

Stearyl Alcohol

Emollient

2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient

2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Polyquaternium-10

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Biotin

Folic Acid

Niacin

Pantothenic Acid

Cyanocobalamin

Pyridoxine Hcl

Riboflavin

Thiamine Hcl

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Emollient

0-2 / 0 Oil Icon

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Masking

0-2 / 0 Fragrance Icon

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Emollient

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Emollient

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Skin Conditioning

3 / 0 Oil Icon

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Emollient

2-3 / 0 Oil Icon

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Skin Conditioning

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Perfuming

Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract

Skin Conditioning

Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract

Cleansing

Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Silk

Humectant

Persea Gratissima Oil

Skin Conditioning

0-3 / 0 Oil Icon

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Polysorbate 60

Emulsifying

Polyquaternium-11

Benzyl Benzoate

Antimicrobial

Polyquaternium-39

Cetrimonium Chloride

Ethylhexylglycerin

Coumarin

Silk Amino Acids

Hexyl Cinnamal

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Benzyl Salicylate

Benzyl Alcohol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Sodium Sulfite

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Persea Gratissima Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Polyquaternium-11, Benzyl Benzoate, Polyquaternium-39, Cetrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coumarin, Silk Amino Acids, Hexyl Cinnamal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite

Elvital Dream Length No Haircut Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Isopropyl Myristate

Emollient

3-5 / 3 May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Dimethicone

Emollient

1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Amodimethicone

Triethanolamine

Buffering

2 / 0

Niacinamide

Smoothing

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Masking

0-1 / 0 Fragrance Icon

Hydroxypropyl Guar

Emulsion Stabilising

Hydroxycitronellal

Perfuming

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Corn Protein

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Humectant

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Behentrimonium Chloride

Preservative

Trideceth-6

Emulsifying

Polyquaternium-4

Limonene

Benzyl Salicylate

Linalool

Benzyl Alcohol

Panthenol

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isopropyl Alcohol

Solvent

0 / 0 Alcohol Icon

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Carbomer

Geraniol

Potato Starch Modified

Cetrimonium Chloride

Citronellol

Coumarin

Hexyl Cinnamal

Parfum

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

Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.

Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Learn more about Benzyl Alcohol

Benzyl Salicylate

Perfuming, UV Absorber

Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.

In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".

While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.

However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Learn more about Benzyl Salicylate

Cetrimonium Chloride

Antimicrobial, Emulsifying, Preservative

This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.

Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.

Coumarin

Perfuming

Coumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.

Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.

In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.

Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.

Learn more about Coumarin

Hexyl Cinnamal

Perfuming

Hexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.

This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.

Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.

Learn more about Hexyl Cinnamal

Parfum

Masking, Perfuming

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 Parfum

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Water

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water