So I’m back on the hair-washin wagon, and I owe it all to Siobhan from the No More Dirty Looks blog.  Her positive reviews of Acure’s shampoo and conditioner were just the motivation I needed!

Ingredients (provided at acureorganics.com)-

Shampoo: Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips),Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate),Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Rooibos,Organic Aloe Barbadensis Vera Leaf Juice, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate (from Coconut), 100% Naturally-derived Betaine (from Sugar Beets), Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (from Coconut + Amino Acids), Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (from Coconut + Amino Acids), Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Sugar Conditioner), Sodium Levulinate (from Corn), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Guar gum conditioner), Potassium Sorbate (food grade preservative), Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Organic Fair-Trade Certified™ Olea Europea (Olive) Oil, D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (vitamin E), hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) seed oil, Attalea speciosa(Babassu) oil, Chenopodium quinoa (Quinoa) protein extract, Ubiquinone (CoQ10),Echinacea angustifolia  (Echinacea) Stem Cells, Mentha peperita (Peppermint) and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Essential Oils

Conditioner: Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry, Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry), Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips), Organic Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Rooibos, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearylkonium Chloride, Vegetable Glycerin, Glucono Delta Lactone (fermented sugar), Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside (from corn and glucose), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (guar gum conditioner), Glyceryl Stearate (vegetable-derived), L-Arginine (amino acid), Organic Fair Trade Certified™ Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Sorbitan Olivate (from olives + sugar), Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cellulose (plant derived), D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (vitamin. E), Lactic Acid (vegetable derived), Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) seed oil, Attalea speciosa (Babassu) oil, Chenopodium quinoa (Quinoa) protein extract, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Echinacea angustifolia  (Echinacea) Stem Cells, Mentha peperita (Peppermint) and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Essential Oils

The shampoo and conditioner both receive low hazard scores of 2 in the preliminary reports I created for them  in the Cosmetics Database.  The only ingredient with a hazard score above a 2 in the shampoo is Potassium Sorbate, and the only ingredient with a hazard score above a 2 in the conditioner is Lactic Acid

Some great things about these products:

1. They’re free of gluten, sulfates, parabens, phthalates.

2. They’re cruelty-free and vegan.

3. The bottles are #2 plastic and can easily be recycled (as well as being made of 70% recycled material).

4. They both contain fair trade certified ingredients.

Product Description(provided at acureorganics.com)- “Build dynamic volume without stripping natural oils or creating build-up. For hair that feels thicker, fuller, and uplifted. Quinoa protein extract supports keratin.Babassu oil provides lightweight moisture for root and scalp maintenance. Echinacea Stem Cells promote cellular regeneration at the root level. Safe for color treated hair. Forget the neighbors…turn up the volume!”

Price-  Each 12 oz. bottle of shampoo/conditioner is a steal at $10.99 a piece.

Performance- Initially I’d hoped to get the Argan Oil+Argan Stem Cell Shampoo/Conditioner that Siobhan reviewed, but they were very temporarily sold out and I am nothing if not impatient. Instead, as you can probably gather from the title of this post, I went with the Pure Mint+Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner. After popping open the bottle for a little sniff, I lost any hesitation I might’ve had regarding my decision (see below). These products clean my hair like a dream, and I only need to use them once every few days to keep my hair smelling fresh and looking clean. As Siobhan mentioned in her review, the shampoo has a pretty impressive lather and the conditioner leaves hair soft and without any trace of residue. What more could I hope for in a shampoo and conditioner?

Scent- The scent reminds me a lot of my old favorite: Aveda Rosemary Mint. I am very pleased by that fact.

Rating-  I suppose I’ll subtract .5 for each of the ingredients with hazard scores above a 2, leaving the collective score of these products at a well-earned 9.

Along with my delicious sample of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix, I received several other Arbonne samples to try out. Today I’ll be reviewing the Fortifying Hair Mask, a product that is a real treat for hair that needs a little extra love.

Key Ingredients (provided at arbonne.com)- “Botanical blend of chamomile flower extract, rosemary leaf extract, sage leaf extract, soy protein; spirulina extract, shea butter.”

None of the current formulations of Arbonne’s products are in the Cosmetics Database, so I’ve linked to each of the key ingredients above. None of the key ingredients have hazard scores above zero, but the key ingredients certainly are not the only ingredients used to make the product. Check out Arbonne’s Ingredient Policy; it eased my mind a little.

Some great things about this product:

1.  Like all Arbonne personal care products, it’s free of petroleum-based ingredients (like Benzene, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phthalates, and Toluene). It’s also free of PABA and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

2. It’s cruelty-free and there are no animal products or animal by-products.

Product Description(also provided at arbonne.com)- “Contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals with a superb, hydrating formula that helps strengthen, con­dition, repair and revitalize the hair shaft for a lustrous, healthy shine. It’s perfect for a scalp massage and safe for chemically treated hair. Mask can be used on newly colored hair to help seal and protect the cuticle, which helps maintain color.”

Price- Around $30.00 for 4 fl. oz.

Performance- This product didn’t weigh my hair down like hair masks I’ve used in the past, which was great. My hair was soft and manageable after adding a little Jonathan Straightening Lotion and blow drying it, and I thought it looked so pretty I didn’t even straighten it! When using this product, I’d suggest combing it into your wet hair with a wide tooth comb and completely saturating the ends. Wait at least 10 minutes before rinsing. That’s what I did, and I was way into the results:

Scent- This scent of this product isn’t very strong, and it smells fruity and slightly medicated. I might also describe it as smelling a little yeasty. I’m into it, but don’t worry if the scent doesn’t sound like your cup of tea. After rinsing, there’s no trace of the scent left at all.

Rating- I’m subtracting 2 points because hard to track down ingredients can be a bit frustrating. 8/10 it is.

Would I purchase this item again? I’d definitely like to see this product’s entire ingredient list before committing, but the performance is fantastic, so most likely!

Image Source

*Samples were provided by an Arbonne representative; opinions were provided by me.

I recently received a package of Jason samples to review, and the Mint & Rose Intense Moisture Treatment packets seemed like a great place to start!

Ingredients (provided at ewg.org/skindeep.)- “Aqua (Purified Water); Vegetable Glycerin; Stearyl Alcohol; Cetearyl Alcohol; Ceteareth-20; Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter); Emulsifying Wax; Phenyl Trimethicone; Stearalkonium Chloride; Cetrimonium Chloride; Panthenol (Vit. B5); Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten; Cetyl Ester; Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil; Mentha Avenesis (Cornmint) Leaf Oil; Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil; Dimethicone; Glycereth-2 Cocoate; Benzoic Acid; Sodium Benzoate; Phenoxyethanol; Fragrance Oil Blend.”

This product receives a hazard score of 5 in the Cosmetics Database. The only two ingredients with hazard scores above a 3 are Fragrance and Ceteareth-20. Needless to day, this hazard score isn’t ideal.

Some great things about this product:

1.  It’s free of parabens and sulfates.

2.  It’s cruelty-free.

Product Description(also provided at jason-natural.com)- “Nourishes scalp and balances pH, as it moisturizes, detangles and protects against further dehydration and damage. Invigorates and revitalizes scalp. Dry, damaged hair is softened, strengthened and restored.”

Price- Around $8.00 for a 5 oz. bottle.

Performance- Not only was my hair incredibly soft after using this product, but it also seemed to curl especially well. Both times I used the treatment, I put it in my hair at the beginning of my shower (each time after shampooing with a different Jason shampoo, both of which I’ll be reviewing soon)  and left it in until just before getting out (around 15 minutes). My hair looked great both straight and wavy after using this product. Here’s the straight version (unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of my dreamy wavy hair):

Scent- It smells an awful lot like Aveda Rosemary & Mint Conditioner to me. And from where I’m standing, that’s a great thing.

Rating- 7/10. I’m subtracting 3 points for the questionable ingredients.

Would I purchase this item again? Well, since Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Conditioner only receives a hazard score of 2, it might be a better choice for the same scent and around the same price. However, I do think Jason’s product is much more moisturizing. It’s kind of a toss up. I’ll say maybe!

*Samples were provided by Jason; opinions were provided by me.

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Have you entered yesterday’s giveaway yet? Now’s a good time!

Made from Earth is a line of organic skincare products that are always free of parabens, synthetic preservatives, colors, and fragrances.  They’re a cruelty-free company and one that  fully supports The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. I recently received several Made from Earth products in the mail for review, and the Peppermint Herbal Conditioner’s lovely scent and no nonsense list of ingredients begged me to try it immediately. How could I resist?

Ingredients (provided at madefromearth.com)- “Organic Aloe Juice, Organic Lavender Distillate, Organic Roman Chamomile Distillate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Castor Seed Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolized Wheat, Mentha piperita (Pepper mint) Essential Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Rosehip Seed Oil, Organic Black Willow Bark Extract.”

I couldn’t locate this product in the Cosmetic Safety Database, so I linked to each ingredient above. The only ingredient with a hazard score above a 3 is Phenoxyethanol, and it earns a hazard score of 4.

Some great things about this product:

1.  It’s free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and synthetic coloring agents.

2.  It’s cruelty-free.

3. It contains organic ingredients.

4. The bottle is made from #1 plastic and is easily recyclable.

Product Description(also provided at madefromearth.com)- “This herbal and organic conditioner leaves your hair silky soft – and it also contains peppermint essential oil to stimulate the scalp area leaving you refreshed. All natural and plant-based ingredients restore elasticity and strength. It is designed to give your hair and scalp the optimum benefits of natural botanicals, rich plant moisturizers. Included is also our science-based formula of hair-enhancing vitamins and amino acids.

Peppermint is known for providing relief from stress, depression and mental exhaustion. Its oil is useful for hair care as it gives a cooling effect while leaving a “waxy” coating on the hair. The conditioner forms a protective layer over each hair, and restores moisture to hair follicles.”

Price- $12.00 for an 8 oz. bottle, which seems to be pretty standard.

Performance-  After shampooing with Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo, I followed the directions provided on this product’s packaging and conditioned my hair twice. I was a little worried that doubling up on the conditioner might weigh my hair down, but I was pretty pleased with how shiny and manageable it ended up being. After a little blow drying and straightening with the help of my Jonathan Straightening Lotion, my hair was almost commercial material!

Scent- Combine the invigorating scents of peppermint and tea tree oil, and voilà! You wind up with this conditioner. The tea tree oil is much less obvious than the peppermint and is almost an afterthought, but it’s definitely there. Also, whoever decided to make shampoos, body washes, and conditioners smell like mint had to be a genius. I can’t think of a better addition to a sleepy morning shower.

Rating- 9/10. I subtracted 1 point for the ingredient with the hazard score of 4, but this product’s performance, scent, price, and remaining ingredients are all fantastic!

Would I purchase this item again? Yes, I certainly would.

*This product was provided by Made from Earth; the opinions were provided by me.

Shampoo-free for five days, and my bangs still don't look wet. Amazing!

I’ve always longed for the kind of hair that never has to be washed but still looks great. Danielle was lucky enough to be born with such hair, but some people have to work for it. I’m one of those people, and I’m finally starting to work for it. For the past three weeks, I’ve been washing my hair only once a week, and I’m actually starting to see a difference in my hair! It’s shinier and it requires less heat styling to make presentable. You might be wondering how a greasy-headed girl like me could possibly get away with shampooing her hair only once a week, so I’ll let you guys in on a few haircare secrets below.

• After going two or three days without shampooing my hair, it starts to feel a little weighed down and dirty. I’ve found that rinsing my hair with either a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water or baking soda and water works wonders. When I’m feeling brave, I use cool or cold water to for extra shine.

• Surprising as it may be, conditioning daily with a light conditioner does not make my hair oily. My hair is healthier for it, and it keeps it smelling nice and minty.

• There are days when I cover my hair with a water resistant head wrap in the shower or simply wet my hair and forgo all rinses and conditioners (usually the day after shampooing), and my hair looks as clean as it ever does.

• I’ve been brushing my hair right before bed and before my morning shower with a boar bristle brush.  Not only does it help move the oil from the roots to the ends, but it also helps remove dirt and other nasty stuff from my hair (if you’re skeptical, then you should buy one and use it for a while without cleaning it…it gets pretty gross). Boar bristle brushes are also great for people with sensitive scalps. Translation: I don’t feel like I’m yanking all my hair out when I encounter tangles.

• When I do shampoo, I try to use as gentle a cleanser as possible. This ensures a minimal amount of damage and makes me feel better about myself.

Thinking of shampooing your hair less? I hope some of my tips encourage you to take the plunge! Or if healthier hair all around is what you’re after… here’s a Care2 article that suggests a few ways to achieve it.

The ingredients:

about 3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon

around 4 tables spoons of lemon juice

contents of one bag of chamomile tea

roughly 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil

nearly 4 tablespoons of my current favorite conditioner

I wet my hair, applied the concoction, and allowed it to sit for 25 minutes. When the time was up, I blow-dried my hair for good measure before rinsing. I’m not sure why; it just felt right. After rinsing, I blow-dried  my hair again (yaaaay heat-styling).

The downside: My hair is exactly the same color.

The upside: None of it fell out, it’s super soft, and it smells like a minty, spicy dessert. Usually olive oil makes my hair look super greasy, but not this time! I guess the trick is to just use a little.

Lesson learned: This mixture will not lighten your hair with just one use (since my impulsive behavior, I’ve read several sources that suggest leaving cinnamon in hair overnight to lighten it), but it will make hair soft and hunger-inducing.  I’ll definitely be replacing the lemon juice with apple cider vinegar and trying this again as a deep conditioner.

Dessert hair is something to get excited about, right?

It’s not drastically different, but I feel like a new woman. I guess that’s all that matters.  I bet I’ll like it even more once I fix it myself. Danielle says that I look like Sophia Bush.

Also, I shaved my legs and armpits with the conditioner that I reviewed yesterday, and they feel like a dream!

Ingredients (provided at intelligentnutrients.com)-

Image Courtesy of Intelligentnutrients.com

Shampoo: Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Disodium Coco-glucoside Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Oleate, Cocoglucoside, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Certified Organic Ethyl Palmate, Certified Organic Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Nigella Certified Organic Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vitis Vinifera (Red Grape) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vaccinium Marcocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Certified Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Menthol, Certified Organic Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil, Certified Organic Vanilla Planifolia Fruit (Natural Flavor), Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry Natural Flavor), Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Limonene, Certified Organic Linalool, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

This shampoo receives a hazard score of 2 on the Cosmetic Safety Database.

Image Courtesy of Intelligentnutrients.com

Conditioner: Water, Certified Organic Ethyl Palmate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Certified Organic Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Certified Organic Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vitis Vinifera (Red Grape) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vaccinium Marcocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Certified Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Menthol, Certified Organic Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil, Certified Organic Vanilla Planifolia Fruit (Natural Flavor), Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry Natural Flavor), Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Limonene, Certified Organic Linalool, Certified Organic Citric Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

The conditioner also has a hazard score of 2 on the Cosmetic Safety Database.

Some great things about these products:

1.  They’re formulated without Ethoxylates, PEG, Silicones, Parabens, Phthalates, Artificial Fragrance, and Sulfates.

2. The bottles are made from #1 plastic, so they can be easily recycled.

Here’s a list of ingredients that Intelligent Nutrients avoids at all costs.

Product Description (also provided at intelligentnutrients.com)-

Shampoo: “Anti-aging, antioxidant rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy and nourishing to the scalp, hair, body and mind. Formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Ideal for use on every hair type, this invigorating shampoo rids hair of build-up, revealing hair in its cleanest, purest form.”

Conditioner: “Ideal for use on every hair type, this leaves hair perfectly behaved and moisturized, never heavy. Anti-aging, antioxidant-rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy, and nourishing to the scalp, hair and mind. Formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.”

Price- The shampoo is $22.00 for a 15 oz bottle, and the conditioner is $24.00 for a 15 oz bottle.

Performance- It’s no secret that my hair is easy to please. Still, I sometimes notice that natural conditioners are a little harder to comb through my hair in the shower and aren’t as moisturizing as they could be. I do not have those problems with the Harmonic Conditioner. It’s comparable to the consistency of yogurt, and I feel like it coats my hair evenly and moisturizes it effectively. The shampoo makes my scalp feel sort of cold when I massage it into my roots with my fingers, and I’m a big fan of that.  If I had to complain about anything, it would be that the lovely scent, which I’ll discuss more below, doesn’t stay in my hair for longer than a day. I like for my hair to smell clean, and I’d have to shampoo and condition every day or every other day to maintain the lovely, minty scent that these products have. Apparently, both the shampoo and conditioner can also be used as shaving lotions/soaps. I’ll definitely be trying this out soon and letting you guys know how it goes.

Scent- Have you guys ever smelled Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner? It reminds me a lot of that, and I love it.

Rating-The fleeting, albeit lovely, scent costs these products 1 point. I can think of no other good reason for subtracting points, so 9 it is!

Would I purchase this item again?- Yes, yes, yes!!

Image Courtesy of Shielo.com

I’m pretty accustomed to seeking out products to review on my own, so when Shielo contacted me about trying and reviewing their products, I jumped at the chance!

Ingredients (provided at shielo.com)-

Shampoo: Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide MEA, Fragrance(Parfum), Hexapeptide-11, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract(1), Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cysteine, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract(1), Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract(1), Arctium Majus Root (Burdock Root) Extract(1), Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride,Benzophenone-4, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Butyloctanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-150 Distearate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phytantriol, Polyquaternium-59, Polyquaternium-47, Silicone Quaternium-16, Silicone Quaternium-3, Trideceth-7, Trideceth-12, Undeceth-11, Undeceth-5, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Yellow 6 (CI 15985)(2)

(1)Certified Organic by Organic Certifiers, Ventura County, CA

(2)Food Grade

I couldn’t find this specific product on the Cosmetic Safety Database, but the ingredients that have hazard score of higher than 3 are Cocamidopropyl Betaine (5), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (4), Cocamide MEA (2-4 depending on product usage), Fragrance (8- SHEESH), Hexylene Glycol (4-5 depending on product usage), PEG-150 Distearate (4-6 depending on product usage), PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate (4-6 depending on product usage),  PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate (4-8 depending on product usage), Methylchloroisothiazolinone (6-go figure), Methylisothiazolinone (6).

Conditioner: Water(Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hexapeptide-11, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract1, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract1, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Arctium Majus Root (Burdock Root) Extract1, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract1, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Amodimethicone, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus (Cactus) Flower Extract, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid,Cysteine, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-9, PEG-45M, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 60, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, PG Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trideceth-12, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance(Parfum), Yellow 6 (CI 15985)2

(1)Certified Organic by Organic Certifiers, Ventura County, CA

(2)Food Grade

I couldn’t find Shielo’s conditioner on the Cosmetic Safety Database either, but here are a list of the ingredients that have hazard scores above a three: Cyclotetrasiloxane (5), Hexylene Glycol (4-5), PEG-45M (5-8 depending on product usage), Methylchloroisothiazolinone (6), Methylisothiazolinone (6), and Fragrance (8).

Some great things about these products:

1. Both the shampoo and conditioner are paraben, sulfate and cruelty-free.

2. Both bottles are made from number 2 plastic, which means that they can be easily recycled.

3. Both products contain organic ingredients.

Product Description (also provided at shielo.com)-

Shampoo: “Serious hydration to address the needs of thick, dry or overstyled hair. A great treatment for all hair types that become dry from chemical processing or the stress of heat styling. Avoids dehydration by keeping hair moisturized, fluid and free flowing.”

Conditioner: “Hydrate thirsty, color-treated hair with a blast of moisture.Deep-penetrating peptides strengthen hair damaged from color treatments or highlighting. Hydration replenishes the appearance of youthful hair, while vitamins and minerals are designed to seal the cuticle tolock in vibrancy.”

Price- $22.49 for each 8 oz bottle

Performance- I’m starting to think that either my hair has become very easy to please or that I’m just lucky enough to have developed consistently good hair (Maybe those two things mean the same thing). This is actually a recent development; I’ve had my fair share of battles with natural shampoos and conditioners in the past (usually with natural brands that are available at most drugstores). As of late, excluding a very small handful of absolute duds, pretty much all shampoos and conditioners that I try leave my hair feeling soft and looking shiny. These two are no exception; my hair looked and felt great after using them. I also noticed that the tangles that sometimes build up in the bottom layers of my hair were nowhere to be found after using these guys.  The scent had to be my favorite part about these products, though. See below.

Scent- If you’ve ever had a tiger’s blood flavored snow cone, then you kinda know what these two products smell like. In my opinion (since tiger’s blood is in my top five favorite snow cone flavors), this is a very good thing. If you’ve never tried one, then:

a) You’re missing out.

b) They smell like coconuts and peaches. It’s a tropical and delicious scent.

Rating- I’m gonna go with a 7 out of 10. Performance and scent? Fabulous. Ingredients? Some are a little iffy.

Would I purchase this item again?- Sure, but I’m also really curious about their Volume line. I might try that next.

One more thing: Shielo is providing you,  my readers, with a discount code for their products; how great is that?! Just enter TURBYANDJOHN during checkout, and receive 5% off  of your entire order- no minimum!

I came across some pretty awesome giveaways that I’d like to share with you guys:

1) Goats Milk Goods Giveaway -Enter this giveaway to win three bars of soap. All bars of Goats Milk Goods soap are free of dyes, synthetic colors, chemicals, and preservatives.

2)Otterbottle Giveaway- Here’s another giveaway on the same blog; enter this one to win an insulated lunch tote- much greener than a brown paper sack.

3) Beecology Giveaway- Enter this giveaway to win a full-sized shampoo and conditioner. Both shampoo and conditioner are paraben and sulfate-free.

There are several different ways to earn bonus entries in each giveaway. Even if you’re not personally interested in any of these items, I’d be willing to bet that someone on your Christmas list is!

You’re welcome!