Wella Colorcharm Shineluxe Top Coat Hair Gloss Versus Kristin Ess Hair High Gloss Longwear Shine Treatment
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Laureth-2
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Ethanolamine
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-11
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Hcl
1-Hydroxyethyl 4,5-Diamino Pyrazole Sulfate
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Laureth-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Oleic Acid, Ethanolamine, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Phosphate, Parfum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-11, Sodium Sulfite, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Hcl, 1-Hydroxyethyl 4,5-Diamino Pyrazole Sulfate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Laureth-2
CleansingOleic Acid
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-2 Cocamine
EmulsifyingEthanolamine
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sec-Butyl Alcohol
SolventSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Hexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialPhosphoric Acid
BufferingAcrylates Copolymer
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Laureth-2, Oleic Acid, Propylene Glycol, PEG-2 Cocamine, Ethanolamine, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Parfum, Ascorbic Acid, Sec-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hexamethylindanopyran, Coumarin, Linalool, Hydrogen Peroxide, Phosphoric Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidThis ingredient is made by combining the fatty acids from coconut oil with monoethanolamine. It is an emulsifier that helps boost foam, thicken texture, and help keep ingredients together in a formula.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAThis ingredient is also known as monoethanolamine. It's a small amino alcohol that works primarily as a pH adjuster.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has declared this ingredient to be safe in rinse-off products based on available animal and clinical data. The EU has regulated this ingredient to be used with restrictions.
A cosmetic formulation thing to note: This ingredient shouldn't be combined with certain preservatives (the ones that release nitrogen compounds) because the two can react to form nitrosamines, a potentially harmful byproduct. Most brands and cosmetic chemists know this when building a formula so this isn't something to worry about it.
Learn more about EthanolamineLaureth-2 is a synthetic surfactant that has cleansing and emulsifying properties. It is commonly used to blend oil and water, help improve cleansing, and add foam.
Like other surfactants, laureth-2 works by reducing surface tension to help dirt, sebum, and other impurities be washed away easily.
This ingredient has low risk of irritation when properly formulated. However, some individuals with sensitive skin may still experience mild irritation.
Learn more about Laureth-2Oleic Acid is an Omega-9 fatty acid that can be found naturally in your skin's sebum and in many plant oils such as avocado and olive oil.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and prevent moisture loss.
Research shows:
A 1998 study did find that applying oleic acid at higher concentrations may cause irritation and disrupt the skin barrier. Modern formulations typically use low levels that is well-tolerated.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Oleic Acid, at C18, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oleic AcidParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
