Kevin Murphy Angel Rinse Versus Paula's Choice Smooth Finish Conditioner

Kevin Murphy Angel Rinse Versus Paula's Choice Smooth Finish Conditioner

What's inside

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Cetyl Alcohol

Glycerin

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Behentrimonium Chloride

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil

Angelica Archangelica Extract

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Isopropyl Alcohol

Cetrimonium Chloride

Phenoxyethanol

Benzoic Acid

Dehydroacetic Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Hydroxide

Parfum

Benzyl Benzoate

Limonene

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Behentrimonium Chloride, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Angelica Archangelica Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene

Cyclopentasiloxane

Stearyl Alcohol

Phenyl Trimethicone

Butylene Glycol

Panthenol

Glycol Stearate

Polyquaternium-10

Citric Acid

Disodium EDTA

Chlorphenesin

Sorbic Acid

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glycol Stearate, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.

It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.

Its main roles are:

Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.

This ingredient is a plant-derived protein made by breaking down wheat proteins into smaller amino acids and peptides. It has skin and hair conditioning properties.

People with known wheat allergy or a history of immediate reactions should be cautious with leave-on products containing hydrolyzed wheat proteins.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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