Byredo

Byredo Bal d'Afrique Hand Cream

Name: Byredo - Bal d'Afrique Hand Cream
Brand: Byredo

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing

Butyrospermum parkii butter, Glycerin + 6 more

Works

What the product description says

“If you're obsessed with BYREDO's utterly iconic perfumes and want to delicately scent your hardworking hands while simultaneously moisturising and caring for skin, you need to discover the brand's decadent range of hand care, beginning with the Bal d'Afrique Hand Cream.”

Source: Cultbeauty

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, butylene glycol.

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: butyrospermum parkii butter, dimethicone.

Butyrospermum parkii butterKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~5.6–8.4%

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~1.3–2%

Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~0.9–1.4%

DimethiconeKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA 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~0.4–0.9%

Glyceryl stearate· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together~2.5–3.8%

Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~1.4–2.2%

C13-14 isoparaffin· EmollientEffect: LowHelps soften the upper layer of the skin, dissolve other ingredients and create a thicker product consistency~0.4–0.9%

Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.35–0.8%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

8 strong irritants: Parfum, Alcohol + 6 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 13 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~3.9–5.8%est.

AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~1.7–2.5%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.1–0.5%est.

Butylphenyl methylpropionalA fragrance. Can trigger allergic reactions and be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.45%est.

Alpha-isomethyl iononeA fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.35%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.3%est.

CoumarinA fragrance. Is a likely skin allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.

CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

PolyacrylamideUsed to improve product texture and help oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.55–1.25%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.35–0.8%est.

Laureth-7Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.15–0.65%est.

Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.1–0.45%est.

BhtA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.35%est.

Comedogenic

2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

2 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~5.6–8.4%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~0.9–1.4%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Butyrospermum parkii butter~5.6–8.4%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter

Parfum~3.9–5.8%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum

Glyceryl stearate~2.5–3.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together

More about Glyceryl stearate

Peg-100 stearate~2.2–3.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture

More about Peg-100 stearate

Alcohol~1.7–2.5%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol

Butylene glycol~1.4–2.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol

Glycerin~1.3–2%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin

Xylitol~1–1.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function

More about Xylitol

Cetearyl alcohol~0.9–1.4%

Key activeComedogenic 2/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol

Polyacrylamide~0.55–1.25%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Used to improve product texture and help oil and water mix together

More about Polyacrylamide

Ceteareth-22~0.4–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

More about Ceteareth-22

C13-14 isoparaffin~0.4–0.9%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin, dissolve other ingredients and create a thicker product consistency

More about C13-14 isoparaffin

Dimethicone~0.4–0.9%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingMattifying

A 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

More about Dimethicone

Phenoxyethanol~0.3–0.75%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl glycol~0.35–0.8%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol

Xanthan gum~0.3–0.7%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum

Laureth-7~0.15–0.65%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Laureth-7

Limonene~0.1–0.5%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene

Butylphenyl methylpropional~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can trigger allergic reactions and be irritating

More about Butylphenyl methylpropional

Disodium edta~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta

Alpha-isomethyl ionone~0.1–0.35%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritating

More about Alpha-isomethyl ionone

Bht~0.1–0.35%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

A preservative

More about Bht

Linalool~0.05–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool

Coumarin~0.05–0.25%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Is a likely skin allergen and can be irritating

More about Coumarin

Sodium hydroxide~0.05–0.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide

Citral~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral

Ingredient list view

Water, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Parfum, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Alcohol, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Xylitol, Cetearyl alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Ceteareth-22, C13-14 isoparaffin, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Xanthan gum, Laureth-7, Limonene, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Disodium edta, Alpha-isomethyl ionone, Bht, Linalool, Coumarin, Sodium hydroxide, Citral

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$50.00

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	ByredoBal d'Afrique Hand CreamYOUR PRODUCT	ULTAHoney Hand Cream	GarnierHand Repair Intensive Restoring Hand Cream Extra Dry Skin	The Beauty CropFineapple Hand and Body Cream
Match	—	47%	46%	46%
Price	$50.00	—	$5.35−$44.65	—
Shared key ingredients	—	3 of 3	3 of 3	3 of 3
Key difference	—	Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil	Allantoin	—
Irritancy	High	Medium	Medium	Medium
Drying alcohol	Contains drying alcohol	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 4 studies and safety reviews.

1
Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2
Safety Assessment of Isoparaffins as Used in Cosmeticsjournals.sagepub.com
3
Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medicationsjaad.org
4
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com

ByredoBal d'Afrique Hand Cream

Buy at Bluemercury$50.00 Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy at Bluemercury$50.00 Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.