The Ordinary went and added additions to their hair care line. The Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair is a gentle daily use formulated shampoo. Description per The Ordinary:
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Phytic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
This is a medium textured gel, it has no scent and it very lightly foams. You can use it as shampoo and as a body wash. I’ve tried it both ways. This bottle is $8 so it’s extremely affordable and worth mentioning the low cost. The packaging is graphic and interesting with the shape. I think the main thing everyone will talk about with this product is that it uses SLES or sulphates. I had a period when I moved away from sulphates (SLS mainly which is not the same as SLES though they’re very similar). I have dry hair because I color it and don’t really deal with dandruff or oily roots. I wash 3x a week which works for me. I use dry shampoo on the second day after washing. I really don’t have that many hair or scalp issues besides dryness or dealing with brassiness color wise. Well normal aging hair loss now plus I did deal with postpartum hair loss years ago. I air dry my hair and don’t use heat styling so in general for being colored it’s not supremely damaged overall.
So many shampoos have moved away from sulphates due to consumer demands over the fear of sulphates. I actually had grown quite used to the alternative surfactants in shampoos. I had gotten used to the low foaming feel and shampooing twice. Some of those sulphate high foaming shampoos were drying to my scalp and hair, my hair is also a little dry in general anyway due to the coloring as a baseline. The Ordinary wanted to make one with a lower concentration of one sulphate at 4% (some formulas may be more like 10% plus they combine other surfactants as well) that was gentle enough and good for everyday use. The texture and overall feel of this one reminds me of one formulated without sulphates. It’s a gel with low foaming. I found this one cleans pretty well, one wash needed not two and it’s seemingly not-drying for my hair. My color hasn’t faded any while using it for the last two weeks as well.
It feels comparable to my normal shampoos I’ve been using that are sulphate free. I do use Nioxin which has SLS and SLES and it’s potent for sure as far as the cleansing aspect. I can only use it once a week at most but usually go more like 1-2x a month. This product by The Ordinary is way different than that. It feels comparable to my normal ones but I only need one wash (though some sulphate free ones are single wash for me as well). More oily hair or scalp sufferers might really like the idea of sulphates as they do clean well. Overall, I would say this one seems gentle, comparable to my others without sulphates and didn’t cause excess dryness or irritation to my scalp. It didn’t seem to fade color either. It has the same low foaming feel so if you like high foaming formulations this one might not be satisfying for you.
The Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner is interesting. It’s a thicker gel textured lightweight conditioner that avoids using ingredients typically found in conditioners. I honestly thought it wouldn’t be enough for my drier colored hair but it is. Details per The Ordinary:
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Phytic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
This is a thicker gel texture conditioner as you could’ve guessed. It manages to condition without weighing my fine hair down. It adds gloss and doesn’t feel greasy or heavy. It’s nice. Both are fragrance free so if you require scent in your hair products you won’t be happy. The conditioner is $8 which is a nice price. I use about 3x as much of the conditioner to the shampoo so I’ll empty way more bottle for sure in comparison. I only have one gripe with this product and that’s the packaging of this one. The plastic, while being a cool shape or style, is stiff and really hard to squeeze out due to the thickness of the gel. I have to sit down in the shower and use both hands just to squeeze any out. It needs a pump or change to the packaging. I have early arthritis and it’s not very friendly to weaker hands. Those with disabilities and weaker hands likely will have a hard time using this product. I didn’t notice it with the shampoo because it’s a thinner texture. Otherwise I really like it.
The Ordinary also put out a new scalp serum. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for Scalp is a creamy hydrating scalp treatment. Details per The Ordinary:
Directions Shake well before use. Massage a few drops thoroughly into clean, dry scalp once daily, ideally at bedtime. This formula is a leave-in treatment. Do not wash hair or scalp after application. If irritation occurs, rinse off, cease use, and consult a physician. Use only as directed on unbroken skin. Patch testing prior to use is advised. Keep out of reach of children.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Squalane, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Isoceteth-20, Dextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
The serum has a milky texture. It’s hydrating for sure. Honestly I tend to not use scalp serums as I don’t really have any issues. Plus I’m also really lazy and that’s an extra step. I think if you’re really into hair health or have a dry flaky scalp you might like this. It’s cheap to try. This serum has amino acids, minerals, squalane and other natural moisturizing factors. I agree with using this as as a night serum before bed. The first time I tried this I put it on in the morning and it leaves my roots a bit oily so I suggest night use. Preferably a night before you’re going to wash. It feels nice and soothing plus it’s moisturizing. But yeah definitely use at night and on a night before a wash. Will there be any long term benefit for me from this? Can’t say, I need to play with it longer than two weeks. I’ll keep trying it more.
The Ordinary launched its Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density a while ago. Like a few years back. I’ve never actually put it to the test. I now have two bottles so after I finish this cel md one I’m using now I will get into fully testing this one. I’ve heard others really like it. Details per The Ordinary:
This concentrated formula is designed to support hair health so that it looks thicker, denser, fuller and healthier. The technologies present in this formula include REDENSYL™ complex (with Larix Europaea Wood Extract and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract), Procapil™ peptide complex (with Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1), CAPIXYL™ peptide complex (with Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 and Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract), BAICAPIL™ complex (with Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract and Glycine Soja Germ Extract), AnaGain™ (Pisum Sativum Extract) and High-Solubility Caffeine (1% net Caffeine by weight), in an ultra-lightweight, emollient base for efficient penetration. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 21.15%.
(References are made to third-party trademarks in this description. REDENSYL™ is a trademark of Givaudan, Procapil™ is a trademark of Sederma Inc., CAPIXYL™ is a trademark of Lucas Meyer Cosmetics Canada Inc., BAICAPIL™ is a trademark of Provital, S.A., and AnaGain™ is a trademark of Mibelle Biochemistry. Neither DECIEM nor The Ordinary is affiliated with the trademark owners.)
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Calcium Gluconate, Zinc Chloride, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
I have nothing I can report on this one as I haven’t used it yet. I’ll update eventually but likely will be months of testing with two bottles.
*Items received in PR , no obligation to post. All thoughts are my own.