Neal's Yard Remedies

Neal's Yard Remedies Melissa Hand Cream

Name: Neal's Yard Remedies - Melissa Hand Cream
Brand: Neal's Yard Remedies

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Edit

Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing

9 ingredients credited for this claim

Good support

What the product description says

“Deeply nourish hard-working hands with the Neal’s Yard Remedies Melissa Hand Cream.”

Source: Mankind

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: cera alba, simmondsia chinensis seed oil.

Althaea officinalis root extractKey activeEffect: HighA plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation~0.4–0.95%

Cera albaKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~1.9–2.9%

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~0.6–1.4%

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.~2.7–4%

Theobroma cacao seed butterKey active· EmollientEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect~1.2–1.9%

Prunus amygdalus dulcis oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that softens the skin~4–6.1%

Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~1.4–2.1%

Olea europaea fruit oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation~3.5–5.2%

Symphytum officinale root extractEffect: LowA plant extract that might be able to help decrease inflammation in skin and have an anti-oxidant effect~0.15–0.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

13 strong irritants: Alcohol, Rosa centifolia flower extract + 11 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 22 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

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~2–3%est.

Althaea officinalis root extractA plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammationHigh~0.4–0.95%est.

Rosa centifolia flower extractContains essential oil. Can be irritatingHigh~0.3–0.7%est.

Citrus limon peel oilA highly irritating fragranceHigh~0.1–0.5%est.

Litsea cubeba fruit oilAn essential oil with a lemon-like smell that is extracted from a fruit grown in Asia. Used as a fragranceHigh~0.1–0.4%est.

Citrus nobilis peel oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skinHigh~0.1–0.3%est.

Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig extract—High~0.1–0.3%est.

Commiphora myrrha oilUsed as a fragranceHigh~0.1–0.3%est.

Melissa officinalis leaf oil—High~0.05–0.25%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.05–0.25%est.

CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.05–0.25%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.2%est.

GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~3.5–5.2%est.

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.Medium~2.7–4%est.

Cera albaForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergenMedium~1.9–2.9%est.

Cetearyl glucosideHelps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product textureMedium~0.95–1.45%est.

Symphytum officinale root extractA plant extract that might be able to help decrease inflammation in skin and have an anti-oxidant effectMedium~0.15–0.5%est.

Levulinic acidHelps stabilize a product formulationMedium~0.1–0.45%est.

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistencyMedium~0.15–0.55%est.

Sodium levulinateA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.45%est.

Comedogenic

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

3 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

Theobroma cacao seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect3/5~1.2–1.9%est.

Zea mays starchUsed to thicken the product's consistency3/5~0.15–0.55%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~1.4–2.1%est.

Edit

Cheaper Alternatives

Similar formulations, better price

No cheaper similar product found.

User reviews

Would you recommend?

No community reviews yet.

Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.

Write a review · ~30s

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil~4–6.1%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

An emollient that softens the skin

More about Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil

Olea europaea fruit oil~3.5–5.2%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil

Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~2.7–4%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.

More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oil

Alcohol~2–3%

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

Cera alba~1.9–2.9%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Cera alba

Cetearyl alcohol~1.4–2.1%

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

Theobroma cacao seed butter~1.2–1.9%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-dandruff

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect

More about Theobroma cacao seed butter

Cetearyl glucoside~0.95–1.45%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture

More about Cetearyl glucoside

Glycerin~0.6–1.4%

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

Althaea officinalis root extract~0.4–0.95%

Key activeIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation

More about Althaea officinalis root extract

Rosa centifolia flower extract~0.3–0.7%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Contains essential oil. Can be irritating

More about Rosa centifolia flower extract

Symphytum officinale root extract~0.15–0.5%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A plant extract that might be able to help decrease inflammation in skin and have an anti-oxidant effect

More about Symphytum officinale root extract

Xanthan gum~0.15–0.55%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum

Levulinic acid~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Helps stabilize a product formulation

More about Levulinic acid

Terpineol~0.1–0.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Terpineol

Zea mays starch~0.15–0.55%

Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

Mattifying

Used to thicken the product's consistency

More about Zea mays starch

Crataegus monogyna fruit extract~0.15–0.55%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Crataegus monogyna fruit extract

Citrus limon peel oil~0.1–0.5%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A highly irritating fragrance

More about Citrus limon peel oil

Litsea cubeba fruit oil~0.1–0.4%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Antibacterial

An essential oil with a lemon-like smell that is extracted from a fruit grown in Asia. Used as a fragrance

More about Litsea cubeba fruit oil

Sodium levulinate~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

A preservative

More about Sodium levulinate

Boswellia sacra resin oil~0.1–0.45%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Boswellia sacra resin oil

Citrus nobilis peel oil~0.1–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that, especially when exposed to air, can cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin

More about Citrus nobilis peel oil

Vetiveria zizanoides root oil~0.05–0.25%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Vetiveria zizanoides root oil

Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig extract~0.1–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig extract

Commiphora myrrha oil~0.1–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Used as a fragrance

More about Commiphora myrrha oil

Melissa officinalis leaf oil~0.05–0.25%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Melissa officinalis leaf oil

Limonene~0.05–0.25%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

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

More about Limonene

Citral~0.05–0.25%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral

Linalool~0.05–0.2%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool

Geraniol~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol

Citronellol~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol

Ingredient list view

Water, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, Olea europaea fruit oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Alcohol, Cera alba, Cetearyl alcohol, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Cetearyl glucoside, Glycerin, Althaea officinalis root extract, Rosa centifolia flower extract, Symphytum officinale root extract, Xanthan gum, Levulinic acid, Terpineol, Zea mays starch, Crataegus monogyna fruit extract, Citrus limon peel oil, Litsea cubeba fruit oil, Sodium levulinate, Boswellia sacra resin oil, Citrus nobilis peel oil, Vetiveria zizanoides root oil, Citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig extract, Commiphora myrrha oil, Melissa officinalis leaf oil, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol