Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Shimmer Radiance Body Oil Versus Vaseline Illuminate Me Shimmering Body Oil
This hydrating oil is formulated around Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil to hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Quaternium-90 Sepiolite
Emulsion StabilisingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-90 Montmorillonite
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Calcium Titanium Borosilicate
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Paraffinum Liquidum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Quaternium-90 Sepiolite, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Quaternium-90 Montmorillonite, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Tin Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, BHT, Parfum, Geraniol, Coumarin, Citronellol, Linalool
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
PPG-14 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Silica
Abrasive
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantParaffinum Liquidum, Isohexadecane, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Parfum, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydroxystearic Acid, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77499, CI 77491, Mica
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 CoumarinIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumParfum 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
