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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Ouai Hair Oil versus Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil .

Published on March 05, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both hair oils. They have a total of 6 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 need an update? Let us know.

Hair Oil American Brand United States
Hair Oil Japanese Brand Japan

Hair Oil

Oil-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Hair Oil

Oil-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Price

Shop

Buy Hair Oil

Starts at $30.00
Shop

Buy Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil

Starts at $69.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Reduces Irritation
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 1.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emollient, Moisturising
Community Rating: Disliked

Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 9.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 29.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 38.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 8.

5
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Hydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".

Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 43.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 7.

6
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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

Ouai Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 44.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil contains this as ingredient number 6.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

20% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
62% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
0% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
88% are disliked or very disliked
13% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Ouai Hair Oil 45 ingredients

Hair Oil hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil 8 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Ouai Hair Oil.

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