L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Repair Leave In Mask Versus L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Leave-In Repair Styling Cream

L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Repair Leave In Mask Versus L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Leave-In Repair Styling Cream

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Isopropyl Myristate

Dimethicone

Amodimethicone

Triethanolamine

Phenoxyethanol

Carbomer

Polyquaternium-4

Potato Starch Modified

Hydroxypropyl Guar

Behentrimonium Chloride

Arginine

Trideceth-6

Isopropyl Alcohol

Cetrimonium Chloride

Linalool

Glycine

Serine

Tyrosine

Citric Acid

Glutamic Acid

Coumarin

Benzyl Alcohol

Benzyl Benzoate

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Parfum

Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyquaternium-4, Potato Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Behentrimonium Chloride, Arginine, Trideceth-6, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Glycine, Serine, Tyrosine, Citric Acid, Glutamic Acid, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum

Butylene Glycol

Aminopropyl Dimethicone

Isododecane

Isononyl Isononanoate

PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether

Undecane

Caprylyl Glycol

Sclerotium Gum

Tridecane

Tocopherol

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Limonene

Sodium Citrate

Hexyl Cinnamal

Citral

Geraniol

Potassium Laurate

Polyquaternium-7

Sodium Benzoate

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Water, Butylene Glycol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Isododecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycine, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Undecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Tridecane, Tocopherol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Limonene, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Coumarin, Potassium Laurate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

Glycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.

A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Parfum 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.

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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