K18 Hair Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask Versus Design Essentials Milk & Honey 6N1 Reconstructive Conditioner
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSh-Oligopeptide-78
SurfactantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientPolyquaternium-7
Glycol Distearate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeC13-15 Alkane
SolventDimethicone
EmollientQuaternium-80
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyquaternium-7, Glycol Distearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, C13-15 Alkane, Dimethicone, Quaternium-80, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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