Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil Versus Minimalist Maleic Bond Repair Complex 05% Hair Serum

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.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

The ranges of the fatty acids differ so much because it varies batch to batch depending on the cultivar and the growing conditions.

In skincare, it mostly does good plant oil stuff: it softens, sits on the surface to slow water evaporation, and makes formulas feel richer.

Now the honest part. Corn oil isn't studied much in dermatology but we do know it's the go-to vehicle in lab research. So there's decades of research where corn oil was the boring control; it never produced an effect of its own but we also don't have much research on it doing something exciting for your skin.

The one thing worth talking about is linoleic. Acne-prone follicles tend to be low in linoleate and a small study found topical linoleic acid shrank microcomedones by around 25% over a month. That was pure linoleic acid and not corn oil so it should be filed under "promising theory" rather than "proven benefit".

Concentration use can be anywhere from trace amounts to about 14% (the high end shows up in cleansers, moisturizers, body creams, and masks). Corn germ oil, which is basically the same ingredient under a different INCI name, has been reported as high as 25% but most of the time you're looking at low single digits.

Corn oil itself isn't a common allergen. Allergies to actual corn are triggered by corn proteins which is mostly refined out of the oil for cosmetic use. How much of the protein removed depends on the manufacturing process, so it's always better to patch test just in case.

This ingredient does have a comedogenic rating of 0-3, but this doesn't mean a formula with this ingredient will clog pores.

Human testing has proved that any finished product with this ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.

The Malassezia yeast can't make its own fatty acids and breaks down oils around it to feed. Lab research shows the yeast grows when fatty acids in the C11-C24 range are available. Since corn oil is almost entirely C16-C18 fatty acids, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.