Versus

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil Versus Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil

Hair Oil
Hair Oil
American Brand United States
Japanese Brand Japan

Overview

What they are

These products are both hair oils. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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
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
UV Absorber, UV Filter

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.

UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.

The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate

When to use

98 Routines
51% use in am
49% use in pm
64% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
5 Routines
60% use in am
40% use in pm
80% use every on_rotation

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil 25 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 6 ratings
Frizz (2) Soft (2) Straight Hair (1)
mandac's avatar

Mandy C 🌸

9 months ago
Review

Works well enough to hydrate and de-frizz ends. For each half of your hair, spread one drop across your palms and work the oil through your hair, mostly at the ends. Get a bit into your mids. Use on dry hair on wash day, or every few days as needed.

#frizz
celinevarberg's avatar

Celine Varberg

4 months ago
Review

So good and smells like a dream, currently on my second bottle! Makes your hair shine easily and makes it feel healthier! (Since it is an oil and it easily makes your hair shine, you don’t need a lot of product ;) took me over a year to finish 1 bootle so that’s lovely!

#soft
#straight hair

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil 8 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Curls (1) Frizz (1) Straight Hair (1)
anemone's avatar

anemone

1 month ago
Review

it’s a nice hair oil, but it’s too expensive imo. delivers great results, but you can get the same results with some cheaper products.

#frizz
#curls
#waves
#straight hair