Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie Versus Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm
Updated on October 26, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe styling creams & sprays. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
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
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 20 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 20 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Serum Protein
HumectantMyrtrimonium Bromide
Preservative
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Serum Protein, Myrtrimonium Bromide, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCocos Nucifera Oil is obtained from the kernels of the coconut fruit. In other words, this is coconut oil.
Coconut Oil is rich in fatty acids with lauric acid making up the majority of these. It also contains linoleic acid. Due to this high fatty acid content, coconut oil helps trap moisture and soften skin.
Despite being antibacterial, coconut oil may not be great for acne-prone skin. It is comedogenic and may clog pores. This ingredient may not be safe for malassezia or fungal acne.
Note: Coconut Oil should not replace your sunscreen for UV protection. Studies show it only blocks about 20% of UV.
This oil is non-volatile and has a light scent.
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.
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilPersea Gratissima Oil is also known as avocado oil.
Avocado Oil has antioxidant properties. It is mostly made up of the glycerides of fatty acids. About 67% of these fatty acids is made up of oleic acid. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are also present.
These fatty acids help hydrate and soften the skin. It may increase collagen content in the skin. Collagen helps keep your skin plump and firm. This ingredient helps reduce inflammation and has not shown to clog pores.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe due to its high fatty acid content.
Avocados also have B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect.
Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The aloe plant is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugar molecules. Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.
As it is easily absorbed by the skin, aloe is a great moisturizer. It is both a humectant and emollient. Emollients help trap moisture in your skin, keeping your skin soft. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin.
Other components of aloe include sugars such as monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 20 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 20 ingredients
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm 28 ingredients
I have fine wavy hair and this leave-in is way too heavy and tick for me. I needed to mix a bit of water to dilute it and be able to spread it and detangle my hair. Most of the times it weighted down and left my hair dirty after one day of use. However, I found an use case for it when I used heat tools to straighten my hair - in these cases my hair looked protected, soft and with volume.
