Ahava

Superfood Smoothing Hand Cream

Name: Ahava - Superfood Smoothing Hand Cream
Brand: Ahava

Efficacy 75/100·High irritancy

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

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Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

2 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Good evidence

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol.

DIMETHICONERole: HeroA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish~0.9–1.35%

GLYCERINRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.2–3.3%

Ethylhexyl palmitateRole: Key activeAn emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture~5–7.5%

Cetearyl alcoholRole: Key activeA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~3.2–4.9%

Cetyl alcoholRole: Key activeA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~2.3–3.4%

Irritancy

15 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 15 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.4–0.95%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.35–0.85%est.

Hexyl cinnamalA fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritantHigh~0.35–0.75%est.

CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.3–0.7%est.

GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.8%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.2–0.75%est.

Hamamelis virginiana leaf water—High~0.1–0.45%est.

Curcuma longa root extractA plant extract that can contain an active compound curcumin, that may have some anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin, but solid research is lacking and the typical concentration used in skincare products is too low. Can be an irritantHigh~0.1–0.35%est.

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistencyLow~1.3–1.9%est.

Sodium cetearyl sulfateHelps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agentLow~0.6–1.4%est.

EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeLow~0.2–0.75%est.

Sodium citrateHelps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve productsLow~0.15–0.65%est.

Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHLow~0.15–0.55%est.

Potassium sorbateA preservativeLow~0.15–0.5%est.

Brassica oleracea acephala leaf extractMight be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skinLow~0.1–0.35%est.

Comedogenic

3 ingredients can clog pores in acne-prone skin

High risk

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating ≥ 2. In leave-on products at higher concentrations they can clog pores for acne-prone skin types.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Ethylhexyl palmitateAn emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product textureHigh~5–7.5%est.

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistencyHigh~1.3–1.9%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product textureMed~3.2–4.9%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels