OUR Solid Shampoo INGREDIENTS

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

This is a vegetable derived, natural surfactant powder and we use a palm free version. This natural surfactant powder forms the main part of our bars and is often abbreviated to SCI. The word ‘surfactant’ is an abbreviation for ‘surface active agent’. As the name implies, surfactants stir up activity on the surface you are cleaning to help trap dirt and remove it from the surface. SCI is a gentle surfactant and is commonly used in skincare and haircare products. It’s an ingredient known for extreme mildness, high foaming performance and a soft and silky feel on the skin and hair after use. It is also naturally biodegradable, palm free and suitable for vegans.

Brassica Alcohol

Brassica alcohol is the fatty alcohol derived from brassica oil. It is a palm free and vegan-friendly natural thickening agent and viscosity adjuster. This is an ideal alternative to palm derived emulsifiers typically used in personal care. In haircare formulas, it reduces breakage due to tangling and combing by conditioning and softening the hair, making it more manageable.

Cocamidopropyl betaine

This is a liquid palm free surfactant derived from hydrogenated coconut oil. It is a very mild surfactant that is biodegradable with excellent foaming capabilities. It is used in a wide variety of applications in both the household and personal care industries. It often gets used as a foam booster in bath bombs and shower gels as well as in shampoo and conditioner.

Stearic Acid

Stearic acid is a fatty acid found in plant fats. Our stearic acid is palm free and comes as fine white flakes. It is derived from European rapeseed oil and is often used in soap making as a thickening and hardening agent. We use it to harden our shampoo bars and help them last longer. It is also quite effective in moisturising and hydrating the skin. It protects the skin by forming a barrier from moisture loss and keeps skin hydrated for longer.

Behentrimonium Methosulphate

This is a plant based emulsifying wax that is naturally generated and often abbreviated to just BTMS. Despite the name, behentrimonium Methosulfate is a non-sulfate. The BTMS we use is palm free, derived from rapeseed oil and no GM products are used in the manufacture. It is completely vegan and serves as a conditioning agent. It creates a very fine conditioning coating on the skin and hair. This leaves a smooth static-free finish with hair feeling moisturised and less prone to frizz.

Decyl glucoside

Another palm free gentle liquid surfactant which is made from plant based fatty alcohols. The decyl glucoside we use is derived from coconut and glucose (corn starch). Because it does not dry the skin, it is ideal for the formulation of mild shampoo products and products for people with sensitive skin as well as baby care products. This ingredient is Soil Association and Ecocert approved, as well as being biodegradable and safe for the environment.

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

This is cocoa butter; a hard, brittle oil that is solid at room temperature. It is derived from the fat from cacao or cocoa beans. The cocoa butter we use is food grade, unrefined and comes from Peru. Cocoa butter can soothe skin irritation and smooth dry skin, wrinkles, scars and other marks on the skin. Also, it helps heal rashes from conditions like dermatitis and eczema.

Helianthus Annuus SEED Oil

This is sunflower oil and this oil isn’t just used for cooking; it is great for your skin and hair too. Because of its high fatty acid concentration, sunflower oil has great emollient benefits. Emollients provide a protective barrier to moisturise, soften and smooth the hair. Sunflower oil helps keep your hair shiny and strong, and can even help with making hair thicker.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid. It is derived from the natural fermentation of sugar found in corn, beets or other plant based sugars. This is a multi-faceted ingredient, known as a humectant moisturiser. The main benefit in haircare products is how effectively it hydrates and revitalises dry and brittle skin. It helps the skin maintain a healthy pH level. Sodium lactate also acts as a preservative enhancer due to its properties in inhibiting bacteria growth. It additionally functions as a buffering agent, helping to strengthen the skin moisture barrier.

Panthenol

Panthenol is a white powder derived from plant based pantothenic acid. It is suitable for all skin types including dry, oily, sensitive, combination and irritated skin. Panthenol converts to vitamin B5 when applied to the skin which is why it is also known as Pro vitamin b5. It is both a humectant, which attracts moisture, and an emollient which helps retain moisture. The combination of these properties can help to create a deeply hydrating product for the skin and hair. Panthenol is also used in hair care products for its softening and strengthening properties. It can add moisture and protection to the hair shaft which can prevent breakage.

Hydrolyzed Proteins

Phytokeratin is a natural and environmentally sustainable liquid that is a direct replacement for animal derived keratin. The phytokeratin we use is a combination of hydrolyzed corn, wheat and soybean proteins. It is palm free, GMO free and produced without ethoxylstion, irradiation or sulphonation. It can enhance moisturising and conditioning properties of a wide variety of skincare and haircare applications. It provides film forming and anti-irritant benefits to leave skin and hair hydrated and healthy. It is also capable of providing potent antioxidant benefits when added to cosmetic applications.

Tocopherol

This is the highly concentrated vitamin E oil we use. It contains around 70% vitamin E and is infused in sunflower oil. Some vitamin E oils are produced synthetically, however the vitamin E oil we use is 100% natural and is distilled from sunflower oil. It is great for dry skin as it hydrates and retains moisture which helps to soothe itchy and irritated skin. A 2015 study looked into the effects of oral vitamin E against eczema. The study found vitamin E oil has antioxidant effects and it was effective at reducing atopic dermatitis with no side effects. It can also reduce cell damage in the hair and scalp and enhance circulation - both of which can assist with hair growth.

Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate & Calcium Gluconate

These ingredients are combined together to create a white powder used as a natural preservative in products like creams, lotions, moisturisers, shampoos and conditioners. It is formally known as Geogard Ultra. It is approved by the Soil Association and conforms with ECOCERT and COSMOS standards. It provides broad spectrum protection against bacteria that grow in water based cosmetic creations. This blend of ingredients has an added skin moisturisation benefit, making it ideal for products like creams, shampoos or moisturisers. Geogard Ultra is widely considered to be one of the most natural preservatives available. Our supplier considers Geogard to be 80% natural. It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is free from palm oil.

Essential oils

We only use essential oils to scent our solid shampoo. Using essential oils are a more natural way of scenting products, as opposed to synthetically created fragrance oils. Shampoo bars that are scented with essential oils have a more natural scent, however they do still contain allergens which naturally occur within the essential oils themselves. These allergens are all listed on our packaging.

The difficulty we find is essential oils can only be taken from certain natural ingredients such as plants and some citrus fruits. The scents are also not as strong and do not last as long as synthetic lab-made fragrance oils. Whilst it is a shame we do not have the range of choice and longevity of synthetic scents, we much prefer the more natural option.

The essential oils we currently use in our solid shampoo bars include: Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens Oil), Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil), Tangerine (Citrus Reticulate Peel Oil), Bergamot (Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil), Litsea Cubeba (Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil), Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea Oil), Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Citriodora Leaf Oil), Peppermint (Mentha Piperita Oil), Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil), Patchouli (Pogostemon Cabin Leaf Oil), Sandalwood Amyris (Amyris Balsamifera Oil) and Cedarwood (Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil).

Essential oils have allergens that naturally occur in the oils. These allergens are in all our sales listings and in our ingredients booklet included in the packaging of every purchase.

Colourants

We only use natural, plant or clay derived colourants to colour our solid shampoo. Natural colourants do not offer the same range of colour choices and are sometimes difficult to work with but they are far better for the environment and the skin. Our natural colourants include colours derived from dried botanicals, clays, spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables and plants. We do our utmost to make sure all ingredients, including our colourants are ethically sourced, leaving the smallest footprint on our planet as possible.

The natural colourants we currently use in our solid shampoo include: Chlorella Powder (Chlorella Vulgaris Powder), Alfalfa Powder (Medicago Sativa Extract), Cocoa Powder (Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder), Indigo Powder (Indigofera Tinctoria), Beetroot Powder (Beta Vulgaris Root Powder), Indian Madder Powder (Rubica Cordifolia Powder), French Pink Clay (CI 77004), French Yellow Clay (CI 77004), French Green Clay (CI 77004) and Activated Charcoal Powder.