Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Concentrated Skin Cream
Works for
MoisturizingPetrolatum, Paraffinum liquidum + 10 moreWorks well
“It is an excellent all-over-the-body moisturizer and after tanning butter and is especially ideal for hands, elbows and knees.”
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: cocos nucifera oil, dimethicone.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum
Anti-agingRetinyl palmitate, Ascorbyl palmitateMay help
“Use daily for a soft, youthful appearance.”
This product contains retinyl palmitate. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · Retinyl palmitateMay help
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 strong irritants: Retinyl palmitate, Parfum + 2 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic5 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale5 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Theobroma cacao extract~7.7–9.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Petrolatum~4.3–5.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss
More about PetrolatumPropylene glycol stearate~3.3–4%
Cetyl alcohol~2.6–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholCocos nucifera oil~2.1–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic
More about Cocos nucifera oilPropylene glycol~1.9–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolGlyceryl stearate~1.7–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateGlycerin~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 GlycerinParaffinum liquidum~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function
More about Paraffinum liquidumTheobroma cacao seed butter~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
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 butterElaeis guineensis oil~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Elaeis guineensis oilDimethicone~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 DimethiconeTocopheryl acetate~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateAscorbyl palmitate~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateRetinyl palmitate~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- High
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitatePeg-8 stearate~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Peg-8 stearateHydroxyethylcellulose~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseBehentrimonium methosulfate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Behentrimonium methosulfateStearalkonium chloride~0.5–0.7%
Parfum~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumMyristyl alcohol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
More about Myristyl alcoholButylene glycol~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 glycolSodium acetate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Cellulose~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.
More about CelluloseStearyl alcohol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholMethylchloroisothiazolinone~0.00075–0.0015%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Is a frequent allergen in cosmetics
More about MethylchloroisothiazolinoneMethylisothiazolinone~0.00075–0.0015%
Ci 19140~0.15–0.25%
Ci 15510~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Benzyl alcohol~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
More about Benzyl alcoholIngredient list view
Water, Theobroma cacao extract, Petrolatum, Propylene glycol stearate, Cetyl alcohol, Cocos nucifera oil, Propylene glycol, Glyceryl stearate, Glycerin, Paraffinum liquidum, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Elaeis guineensis oil, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl acetate, Ascorbyl palmitate, Retinyl palmitate, Peg-8 stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Behentrimonium methosulfate, Stearalkonium chloride, Parfum, Myristyl alcohol, Butylene glycol, Sodium acetate, Cellulose, Stearyl alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Ci 19140, Ci 15510, Benzyl alcohol
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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.
| PalmersCocoa Butter Formula Concentrated Skin CreamYOUR PRODUCT | NeutrogenaExpress Absorption Hand Cream | BebeZartcreme | HUMANANOHand & Nail Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| Price | $3.57 | $15.13+$11.56 | $11.50+$7.93 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 1 of 7 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Isopropyl Myristate | Lanolin | Oligopeptide-5 |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Superdrug Dry Skin Relief CreamQV QV Baby Moisturising Cream
Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, "Palmers - Cocoa Butter Formula Concentrated Skin Cream" can work well for skin moisturization. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Humectants in this product (glycerin and butylene glycol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, theobroma cacao seed butter, cocos nucifera oil and dimethicone in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Ingredient callouts
- this moisturizer includes a form of retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.55% - 0.80%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains a bunch of common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide any known benefit for the skin. It might not be the best choice if your skin is sensitive. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 3.29$ up to 5.69$ in the United States and for 7.50£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 16 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4
- 5A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6
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