When it comes to finding the perfect hair care routine for your specific hair type it truly can feel like finding a needle in a hay stack. Finding the right products that clean your hair but doesn’t dry it out, or products that moisturize your hair but doesn’t clog the follicles. This struggle goes even deeper when you factor in avoiding carcinogenic chemicals. Thankfully I came across the site EWG.org which rates products on their ingredient list. They take donations and, depending on the donation, offer EWG approved items to use. This review will be on the Herbal Essences Honey and Vitamin B daily moisture shampoo which is one of the products they mail out as an EWG approved product.
Ingredient List
Water: 1st common base ingredient
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate: a surfactant derived from coconuts which helps with cleansing and foaming
Glycerin: is a humectant which draws moisture into the hair
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: surfactant to further clean the scalp and causes foaming
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate: hair conditioning agent and foaming booster. A mild surfactant
Honey Extract: smoothes hair and skin. A humectant that draws moisture to hair
Histidine: an amino acid that protects hair from damage
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: known for conditioning/moisturizing skin and hair with calming properties.
Ecklonia Radiata Extract: hair conditioning agent that may have antioxidative properties
Fragrance**: **Fragrance Ingredients include: Methyldihydrojasmonate (synthetic jasmine fragrance), Hexyl Salicylate (synthetic floral fragrance), 2-t-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate (synthetic fresh floral fragrance), Ethylene Brassylate (synthetic sweet musk), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (naturally derived from peels of sweet oranges) Oil, Limonene (naturally derived from peels of citrus fruit), Hexyl Cinnamal (synthetic floral, jasmine scent), Linalool ( can be synthetic or found naturally. Found in flowers and spice plants).
Panthenol:vitamin B5 reduces hair loss by strengthening hair strands
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: is a chelating agent which helps to maintain the stability of the formula
Sodium Benzoate: a preservative that prevents growth of bacteria, mold and fungi
Phenoxyethanol: preservative that may have risk for contamination during processing
Polyquaternium-10: conditioning, anti-static agent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: a thickening agent, film forming
Salicylic Acid: exfoliates and cleanses the scalp
Polyquaternium-7: soothes, moisturizes and conditions hair. Also has anti-static properties
Glycolic Acid:ph adjuster, alpha hydroxy acid exfoliates scalp
Niacinamide: vitamin B3 is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps retain moisture and balances scalp
Stand Out Ingredients
The ingredients that caught my eye as beneficial ingredients were Glycerin, honey extract, aloe vera, panthenol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and niacinamide. These products nourish the hair by drawing in moisture, protect and strengthen hair, and cleanse and promotes renewal of the scalp.
Ingredients To Watch Out For
Phenoxyethanol and several other ingredients that have been ethoxylated (reacted with ethylene oxide) run the risk of contamination with 1,4 Dioxane and ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide helps increase shelf life, solubility, enhances penetration and reduces harshness in the ingredient therefore reducing chances of irritation. All of these are great benefits to the skin care product. But be aware as a consumer that the ethoxylation can produce carcinogenic by-products such as 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide. Limits are made by the FDA and European commission regarding the amount of these ethoxylated ingredients in skin care. A procedure of purification post the ethoxylation is standard but still important to be aware of the process.
Polyquaternium-7 was listed as a 5 on the EWG website due to its possible contamination with acrylamide, a possible carcinogen.
Fragrances can be an iffy subject. Most of the fragrances listed high on the ingredient list are synthetics fragrances while a few are natural. Fragrances can be an issue when they aren’t listed as companies aren’t required to list their full fragrance ingredients which can account for over 3500 chemicals. Unfortunately some fragrances can be an endocrine disruptor, irritating and even toxic to our health. This shampoo however is taking a step in transparency which is a huge step for personal care items and lists its full fragrance list. This transparency allows people to make educated decisions on what they choose to put on their bodies.
EWG Rating
EWG rated this item a 3 on their site dinging Cocamidopropyl Betaine (has been linked to irritation and allergic dermatitis), sodium benzoate for its fragrance and phenoxyethanol for the possible contamination listed above, amongst other ingredients. Although these items are generally ruled as safe in small dosages and should not be completely canceled out, it’s important to know what could possibly be causing irritation and adverse reactions in the products you use.
I personally loved this product. My hair has never felt so soft after washing and I still feel like I’m getting a deep clean, just more of a nourishing clean. These results seem to be the majority consensus in review sections. I have 4c, dry hair and so I’m always looking to nourish. Chemicals don’t always make a product a bad product but because our immune systems are so vastly different it’s important for companies to try to use clean ingredients with the least amount of ingredients known to cause irritation. Though sulfate and paraben free with light fragrances work for a lot of people it may not work for everyone. Patch tests are always your best bet!
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