What's in this stuff? A Closer look into our 2-in-1 Shampoo + Body Wash

When it comes to eating well, one simple rule some health coaches recommend is, “If a food has ingredients you can’t pronounce, just don’t eat it.” It’s pretty good advice, especially if you’re the type who needs an extra reminder that snack cakes with a three-year shelf life or spray cheese aren’t good for you. But with grooming products, it’s often more complicated than that. Ingredients that look like they came straight out of an advanced chemistry textbook might just be your skin’s best friend. Meanwhile, unlike food, “all-natural products” are often not what’s best for your body. For example, the improper use of essential oils in products can have dangerous and damaging effects on your skin.

 
Because our team goes to great lengths to ensure that we’re only using safe and effective ingredients in all our products, we wanted to take a deeper dive into our ingredients list to explain each of our ingredients—what they are, and what they do. To start off our series, we chose our 2-in-1 Shampoo + Body Wash. Since it’s a single product that handles your skin and hair, it seemed like a great place to begin.

Below is a list of our Shampoo + Body Wash ingredients with a brief explanation of their role in the formula:
 

• Water: We're guessing you’re familiar with this, and we’ll just leave it at that.   
• Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate: A sulfate-free cleansing agent that helps cleanse the skin by mixing with water to rinse the skin and hair free of dirt, oil and pollutants. 
• Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine: A coconut-derived foaming and cleansing agent that is a safe alternative to sulfates. Gently removes dirt from skin and hair.
• Cocamide DIPA: A coconut-derived surfactant used to increase foam and viscosity.
• Butylene Glycol: A humectant (a material that helps reduce the loss of moisture from the hair and skin) that also helps increase penetration of other raw materials into the skin. 
• PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate: Helps to cleanse both the skin and hair by helping water mix with oil and dirt so they are able to rinse away. 
• Polyquaternium-7: An anti-static film former that prevents the buildup of static electricity by forming a thin coating on the hair shaft which inhibits the hair shaft from absorbing moisture and creating frizz. It provides a rich foam while leaving no build up on the skin. Keeps the hair silky and smooth.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: A natural plant extract that has soothing properties, antioxidant qualities and serves as a hydrating agent for skin. 
• Decyl Glucoside: A sugar-derived mild cleansing agent. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and possesses moisture-retaining properties that help promote soft and smooth skin.
• Glycerin: A natural compound found in vegetable and animal fats (ours is plant-sourced). Glycerin is a humectant. It works to moisturize the skin by attracting water from the air to the skin. It also forms a protective layer on the skin, keeping moisture from leaving the skin. 
• Polyquaternium-10: Enhances the look and feel of hair by increasing hair body and suppleness. It also helps to improve physically-damaged hair and prevents static electricity from forming. 
• Panthenol:  A derivative of vitamin B5. Panthenol hydrates hair and promotes shine. It calms, moisturizes and reduces itching and inflammation of the skin.
• Caffeine: An organic compound that provides antioxidant protection from free radicals. Caffeine also aids the skin in the absorption of other active ingredients.
• Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil: A natural plant extract that helps to thicken hair and helps to treat dandruff. Additionally, this essential oil has also been found to help stimulate hair growth.
• Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil: Obtained from the dry leaves of the Eucalyptus tree, Eucalyptus leaf oil helps reduce skin irritation and combats oily skin issues such as acne and clogged pores.
• Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil: Peppermint oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium and potassium. The oil has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It helps to brighten skin and control acne issues such as clogged pores and excess secretion of oils.
• Fragrance: A mix of naturally sourced essential oils and perfumers’ ingredients with the express purpose of enhancing the experiential element of your grooming routine with fine fragrance. While we keep a few of our ingredients trade secrets to prevent the imitators from borrowing too heavily from us, each of these ingredients is sustainably-sourced and deemed safe for use in our products by the International Fragrance Association, one of the most demanding organizations in the grooming and cosmetics industry.
• Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil: A naturally sourced plant extract with the antioxidants found in the sage leaf help prevent fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Also helps add a sheen and shine to hair. Contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E): A form of Vitamin E, Tocopherol is a natural anti-oxidant and skin-conditioner. It contains anti-aging, moisturizing and antioxidant properties. It also helps block the skin from free radicals, which can help to prevent fine lines.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative system used in formulations to fight microbial growth and stabilize the formula. 
• Caprylyl Glycol: A an alcohol derived from coconut oil that acts as a humectant, which moisturizes hair and skin. It also prevents microbial growth.
• Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil: A natural plant extract rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, it helps to fight against free radicals. With antimicrobial properties, it also helps keep the skin clean and fresh. 
• Citric Acid: An alpha-hydroxy acid, citric acid is used in formulations to adjust the pH level of the product.
• Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil: Tangerine oil is cold-pressed from the rind of the fruit. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and helps to cleanse and purify the skin. 
• Black Pepper: Rich in anti-oxidants, black pepper helps fight free radicals which cause fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Black pepper also helps to revitalize the hair, making it soft and shiny.

And there you have it: the full rundown of every ingredient in our Shampoo + Body Wash. Treat yourself to a bottle and see just how lovely one formula can be.