Palmers Cocoa Butter Night Cream is definitely one night cream I’d recommend. The cream is so light and not heavy on the face enough though the texture is so rich. It doesn’t feel oily and it absorbs in the skin very quickly. Also, I really like the cocoa smell, it is really pleasant and not too strong and overpowering.
My skin is usually very dry in winter but this night cream created a nice smooth layer on my skin. It prevents excessive water loss from my face overnight. I can feel the suppleness the next morning.
The Ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
| Ingredient | Function/Purpose |
|---|---|
| Water (Aqua) | Solvent |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | Wax |
| Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Exract | Moisturiser |
| Cyclopentasiloxane | Emollient |
| Glyceryl Stearate | Emulsifier |
| PEG-100 Stearate | Emulsifier |
| Cyclohexasiloxane | Emollient |
| Glycereth-26 | Humectant |
| Theobroma Cocao (Cocoa) Seed Butter | Moisturiser |
| Diethylhexyl Sebacate | Emollient |
| Glycerin | Humectant |
| Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter | Moisturiser |
| Tocopherol | Antioxidant |
| Helianthis Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil | Moisturiser |
| Retinol | Anti-ageing |
| Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder | Moisturiser |
| Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil | Moisturiser |
| Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 | Anti-ageing active |
| Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 | Anti-ageing active |
| Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Extract | Skin Conditioner |
| Hydrolyzed Milk Protein | Skin Conditioner |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | Chelating Agent |
| Ceteareth-20 | Emulsifier |
| Sodium Polyacrylate | Absorbant |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | Preservative |
| N-Hydroxysuccinimide | Skin Conditioner |
| Fragrance (Parfum) | Fragrance |
| Steareth-20 | Emulsifier |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Emollient |
| BHT | Antioxidant |
| Propylene Glycol | Humectant |
| Benzyl Benzoate | Preservative |
| Coumarin | Fragrance Allergens |
So what does each ingredient mean? Click here to find out more about it!
The Claims
Ingredient Highlights
1. Retinol also known as Vitamin A can help reduce dry/ damaged skin. It also has anti-ageing properties. If you are pregnant then it is recommended to avoid using Vit A in your skincare routine.
2. The Peptide Complex; Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is known to preserve and renew collagen. This of course helps make you look younger and more youthful.
3. Shea Butter; Butyrospermum Parkii has anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. Its also contributes to soft, smooth touch and skin nourishment.
4. Aloe; Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice has many functions in personal care products. This includes anti-inflammatory, soothing, antiseptic, moisturising. Due to its endless skin benefits it is almost like a default ingredient in cosmetics products.
5. Cocoa; Theobroma Cacao not only good for ingestion but also good at maintaining skins health. Additionally it is rich in phytochemicals which helps maintain skin and has photoprotective mechanisms.
6. Vitamin E; Tocopheryl Acetate is an antioxidant which helps gather all the free radicals and terminate its chain reaction before it damages your skin. (Check out my review for Nivea Body Cream, for a matching body cream with Vitamin E.)
So what other ingredients make this night cream good?
There are a couple of other good ingredients that are not mentioned on the pack. So what are they?
1. Coconut Oil is a well known skin moisturiser. Not only that but its benefits are comparable to mineral oil (if not better!). Of course the best part is that it is all natural. If you have skin dryness and flaking, then coconut oil is a good natural remedy.
2. N-Hydroxysuccinimide is an ingredient that is not that well known. It is mainly used in eye creams as it reduces dark circles.
3. Hydrolyzed Milk Protein has moisturising properties to help with dry skin. It also creates a film on the skin to help protect harsh environment.
4. Evening Primrose comes from the flower Oenothera Biennis. It is known to help with conditions relating to eczema and also acne.
Fragrance Allergens
Fragrance allergens are usually listed on cosmetic products. This is so the consumers are aware of possible allergic reactions they might encounter. Or to avoid if they are allergic to these ingredients. The fragrance allergen in this night cream is coumarin.
The Controversial Topic: Silicones
Consumers now days always look out for silicones. Why? Because it they are believed to suffocate the skin, toxic and clog pores. Yes they are synthetic, but do you really want to avoid these wonderful ingredients if they have already been proven to be a myth?
So in short, I have no problems with silicones. Below are links if you’d like to delve deeper into the science of silicones. But you must keep an opened mind if you want to know the truth. These two chemists explain them very well (and i’ll save some time by not reiterating).
Check out this skin smoothing cream if you are a fan of silicones!
My Ratings on this Night Cream
Original post: July 2017
What do you think? Comment below on whether you like silicones or not.
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