L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Protein Treatment Hair Mask Versus Aromatica Quinoa Protein Treatment Mask

L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Protein Treatment Hair Mask Versus Aromatica Quinoa Protein Treatment Mask

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Cetearyl Alcohol

Behentrimonium Chloride

Euphorbia Cerifera Cera

Amodimethicone

Cetyl Esters

Isopropyl Alcohol

Glycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Trideceth-6

Linalool

Lactic Acid

Hexyl Cinnamal

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

Cetrimonium Chloride

Limonene

Sodium Hydroxide

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

CI 19140

CI 15985

Parfum

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Trideceth-6, Linalool, Lactic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, CI 19140, CI 15985, Parfum

Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Triethylhexanoin

Decyl Cocoate

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Sorbitan Olivate

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Cetearyl Olivate

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Copper Tripeptide-1

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Avena Sativa Protein Extract

Ceramide NP

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil

Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide

Panthenol

Citric Acid

Tocopherol

Malt Extract

Hydrolyzed Corn Protein

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Cetyl Palmitate

Sorbitan Palmitate

Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Caprylyl Glycol

Butylene Glycol

Illicium Verum Fruit Extract

Lavandula Hybrida Oil

Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Sodium Acetate

Cellulose

1,2-Hexanediol

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Decyl Cocoate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Protein Extract, Ceramide NP, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cetyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Acetate, Cellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Linalool

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%.

Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.

Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.

It plays several roles in a formula:

Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.

Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.

However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.

Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.

Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.

Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.

This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.

A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.

This ingredient is derived from the seeds of the quinoa plant. In skincare, it pulls double duty as a skin conditioning and antioxidant agent.

The key bioactives in this ingredient are hytoecdysteroids (especially 20-hydroxyecdysone), polyphenols, proteins, and essential amino acids like lysine and methionine.

20-Hydroxyecdysone has been shown to helps skin cells mature properly, makes skin thicker and firmer, and slows down the enzymes that break down collagen.

On the anti-aging front, quinoa's active compounds have been shown in lab studies to block the enzymes that break down collagen at pretty low concentrations. They also help reduce free radical damage so you're getting antioxidant protection too.

Quinoa extract helps the skin onto moisture better by boosting the production of two key proteins that keep the skin barrier intact.

And the cool part is that this ingredient is effective at concentrations anywhere from 0.001-5% in a finished product.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated and low-irritation ingredient with research backing its claims.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Isopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.

This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

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.

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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