Palmers Cocoa Butter Intensive Relief Hand Cream
Works for
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
Moisturizing13 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Cocoa Butter Intensive Relief Hand Cream”
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, hydrolyzed soy protein.
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, theobroma cacao seed butter.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum, urea
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy5 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Urea~9.9–12.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations
More about UreaCetearyl alcohol~4.3–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholTheobroma cacao extract~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Glyceryl stearate~2.5–3%
- 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~2.2–2.6%
- 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~1.7–2.1%
- 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 liquidumCetyl alcohol~1.5–1.9%
- 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 alcoholPetrolatum~1.4–1.7%
- 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~1–1.3%
- 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 glycolDimethicone~0.95–1.15%
- 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 DimethiconeTheobroma cacao seed butter~0.7–1.05%
- 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 butterTocopheryl acetate~0.6–0.9%
- 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 acetateHydrolyzed oat protein~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Hydrolyzed oat proteinHydrolyzed soy protein~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might have some anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and skin lightening properties, but solid evidence is missing
More about Hydrolyzed soy proteinHydroxyethylcellulose~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseStearalkonium chloride~0.35–0.6%
Phenoxyethanol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.5%
Behentrimonium methosulfate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Behentrimonium methosulfateButylene glycol~0.2–0.35%
- 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~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Stearyl alcohol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholMyristyl alcohol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
More about Myristyl alcoholCellulose~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.
More about CelluloseIngredient list view
Water, Urea, Cetearyl alcohol, Theobroma cacao extract, Glyceryl stearate, Glycerin, Paraffinum liquidum, Cetyl alcohol, Petrolatum, Propylene glycol, Dimethicone, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Tocopheryl acetate, Hydrolyzed oat protein, Hydrolyzed soy protein, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Stearalkonium chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behentrimonium methosulfate, Butylene glycol, Sodium acetate, Stearyl alcohol, Myristyl alcohol, Cellulose
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Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, "Palmers - Cocoa Butter Intensive Relief Hand Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin. 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. Urea, glycerin, hydrolyzed soy protein and butylene glycol in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Paraffinum liquidum, theobroma cacao seed butter, dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol 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.
Irritation risk
This moisturizer contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. 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 for 7.34CA$ in Canada, for 4.79A$ in Australia, for 6.96$ in the United States and from 2.99£ up to 11.24£ 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 15 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Topical urea in skincare: A reviewpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2
- 3A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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