Understand what’s inside your hair care
Clear, independent information about the ingredients on hair-care labels, read from the actual labels in our product library. Decide for yourself what belongs in your routine.
2,252ingredients analyzed
6,816products researched
171,139label placements read
Humectants
Water-binding ingredients. What they do depends on the air around them as much as on the formula.
37 published entries, most-listed first. The number beside a name is how many products in our library list it.
- Glycerin4144
- Caprylyl Glycol1388
- Lactic Acid641
- Sodium Hyaluronate417
- Sodium PCA401
- Honey271
- Sorbitol216
- Xylitol212
- Gluconolactone192
- Sodium Lactate177
- Betaine161
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract141
- Trehalose99
- Xylitylglucoside78
- Zinc PCA74
- Anhydroxylitol73
- Glucose61
- Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid61
- Inulin60
- Sucrose50
- Saccharide Isomerate41
- Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract33
- Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract30
- Hydroxyethyl Urea27
- Xylose26
- Decolorized Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice25
- Calcium Pantothenate22
- Maltitol22
- Erythritol18
- Fructose16
- Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate14
- Aloe Vera Juice7
- Diglycerin6
- Potassium Lactate6
- Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea (Red Algae) Extract5
- Organic Aloe Leaf Juice4
- Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice4
How the library works
- An entry gets a page once it has a written description and appears in at least three researched products. Below that we leave the name as plain text on the product pages rather than publishing a page with nothing on it.
- US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Position tells you about relative amount only above that line, and we never convert a position into a percentage.
- We do not publish safety scores or hazard grades. Where a regulator has published a restriction or a use condition, we state it and cite it; otherwise we describe what the ingredient does and stop.
- Nothing on these pages is paid placement, and we do not sell any of the products they link to.
