100% Virgin Coconut Oil Body Conditioner

Name: SheaMoisture - 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Body Conditioner
Brand: SheaMoisture

Efficacy 100/100·Medium irritancy

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

Judging from the ingredient list, "SheaMoisture - 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Body Conditioner" works well for improving skin hydration This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients.

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Product summary

Judging from the ingredient list, "SheaMoisture - 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Body Conditioner" works well for improving skin hydration 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 (panthenol, glycerin and caprylyl 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). Emollients in this formulation (cocos nucifera fruit extract, vitis vinifera seed oil, butyrospermum parkii butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride and cocos nucifera oil) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: agran oil

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. 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.

About the brand

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "SheaMoisture" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.

Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

8 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong 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, caprylyl 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, caprylic/capric triglyceride.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PANTHENOLRole: HeroHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.4–0.65%

BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTERRole: Key activeA 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~1.8–2.2%

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDERole: Key activeA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~6.9–8.4%

COCOS NUCIFERA FRUIT EXTRACTRole: Key activeAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~0.25–0.5%

COCOS NUCIFERA OILRole: Key activeAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~0.7–1.05%

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~3.1–3.8%

ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OILRole: Under-dosedAn emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties~0.2–0.4%

VITIS VINIFERA SEED OILRole: Key activeA great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties~0.5–0.7%

Irritancy

9 flagged ingredients — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Vanilla planifolia fruit extractA plant extract used as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.25–0.5%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinLow~6.9–8.4%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 inflammationLow~0.55–0.8%est.

Vitis vinifera seed oilA great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant propertiesLow~0.5–0.7%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA 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.Low~0.3–0.6%est.

Argania spinosa kernel oilAn emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant propertiesLow~0.2–0.4%est.

Triethyl citrateUsed as a fragrance. Rarely causes irritationLow~0.15–0.25%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureLow~0.15–0.3%est.

Benzoic acidA preservativeLow~0.1–0.2%est.

Comedogenic

4 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

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 radicalsHigh~1.8–2.2%est.

Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenicHigh~0.7–1.05%est.

Cocos nucifera fruit extractAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenicHigh~0.25–0.5%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product textureMed~2–2.5%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels