Oil and odor absorbing, style extending, easily blended, talc-free, for all hair types
Odour control is a performance claim we cannot read from the list.
- Fragrance
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Kristin Ess
Style Reviving Dry Shampoo Powder
Dry shampoo
- Dry shampoo
- powder
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Curly-method
- Vegan · label states
- Cruelty-free · label states
SizeNET WT. 1 OZ / 28 g
Price$6.99 Good valueseen at one store · 1 oz
Where to buy2 stores · $6.99–12.00
Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.
Scent:
Notes: ambrette seed, magnolia, new caledonia sandalwood, night violet, orris butter, pear water, powdery, white amber.
“The One Signature: ambrette seed, magnolia, pear water, night violet, orris butter, new caledonia sandalwood + white amber” (Brand page)
Strength: Strong
Manufacturer page: kristinesshair.com
Not enough priced dry shampoos to place it
We have not priced enough dry shampoos to place this one.
Great for
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Matte, textured stylesabsorbent powders do the mattifying
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Vegan and cruelty-freeour researched record has it as both
Tight budgetsit sits in the lower price tiers
Maybe skip if
this product has a strong scent
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Oil-absorbing ingredients
High in the list
Absorbent powders or starches high in the list.
Fast-drying alcohol
None
No fast-drying alcohol in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Fragrance
Prominent
Fragrance is in the first eight ingredients, so it makes up a larger share of the formula.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zea Mays (Corn) Starch | starch | Soaks up oil and adds grip | Neutral |
| Maranta Arundinacea Root PowderMaranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot) Root Powder | botanical extract | A plant extract, there as much for marketing as for function | Neutral |
| Tapioca Starch | starch | Soaks up oil and adds grip | Neutral |
| FragranceFragrance (Parfum) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Silica | powder | A trace of mattifying powder | Stabilizes |
| Silica Silylate | powder | A trace of mattifying powder | Stabilizes |
| Kaolin | clay | A little absorbency | Neutral |
| Rice StarchOryza Sativa (Rice) Starch | starch | A little oil absorption | Neutral |
| Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Extract | botanical extract | A trace plant extract | Protein |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Fragrance is on the label. Vegan and cruelty-free.
Full ingredient list (31)
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.
-
1
Zea Mays (Corn) Starch
General function
A starch that soaks up oil at the roots and adds texture.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAdds grip and body with no oil attached, which is what lifts fine hair at the root instead of weighing it down.
DependsMaximum-hold stylingStarch gives texture and grip rather than a set film; firm hold usually needs a polymer alongside it.
- starch
- powder
-
2
Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder
· Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot) Root Powder
General function
An extract from the root of Maranta Arundinacea. Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- botanical extract
-
3
Tapioca Starch
General function
A fine starch that absorbs oil and leaves a dry, grippy feel.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAdds grip and body with no oil attached, which is what lifts fine hair at the root instead of weighing it down.
DependsMaximum-hold stylingStarch gives texture and grip rather than a set film; firm hold usually needs a polymer alongside it.
- starch
- powder
- ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
-
4
Fragrance
· Fragrance (Parfum)
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
5
Silica
General function
A fine mineral powder that absorbs oil and adds grip. It is what makes texture powders and matte pastes feel dry to the touch.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairA dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- powder
- thickener
- mineral
-
6
Silica Silylate
General function
A treated silica used to absorb oil and add grip in texture products.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- powder
- thickener
-
7
Kaolin
General function
A soft white clay that absorbs oil and adds body without much grit.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAbsorbs oil and adds texture, which is what gives fine hair grip at the root instead of slip.
- clay
- powder
-
8
Rice Starch
· Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch
General function
A fine starch that soaks up oil at the roots and adds grip.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAdds grip and body with no oil attached, which is what lifts fine hair at the root instead of weighing it down.
DependsMaximum-hold stylingStarch gives texture and grip rather than a set film; firm hold usually needs a polymer alongside it.
- starch
- powder
-
9
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Extract
General function
A broken-down baobab seed extract, used for conditioning and strength claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairFilling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairHydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- botanical extract
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
10
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
- botanical extract
-
11
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter
General function
A plant butter that is slightly lighter than shea, used in curl creams.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoarse, porous hair loses water quickly and can carry the weight; a butter slows that loss more than a thin oil does.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA solid fat melts onto the strand at body temperature and stays there, which is the heaviest surface moisture-holding a formula can offer.
- butter
- emollient
-
12
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
General function
A rich oil used in masks and heavier creams for softness on coarse or dry hair.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
-
13
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
General function
A thick, tacky oil used for sealing ends and for slick, held-down styles.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
-
14
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
General function
A light, widely used oil that softens without much weight.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
International Journal of TrichologyMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairCoats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
-
15
Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
-
16
Water
· Water (Aqua/Eau)
- solvent
-
17
Sodium Bicarbonate
General function
Baking soda. Used in trace amounts to raise pH; at higher levels it is alkaline enough to swell the cuticle.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairTakes up oil at the root, which is where fine hair goes flat first.
DependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairpH adjusters are how a formula is brought to a chosen acidity, and an acidic formula keeps the cuticle lying flatter than an alkaline one. Which way this one moves the pH depends on the formula, and the finished pH is not on the label.
- pH adjuster
- absorbent
-
18
Ethylhexylglycerin
General function
A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- preservative
- emollient
-
19
Panthenol
General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairIt hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
-
20
Betaine
General function
A sugar-beet derived humectant that binds water. Despite the name it is not a cleanser like cocamidopropyl betaine.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant moves water in whichever direction the air allows: it holds moisture in humid conditions and can pull it back out of hair in very dry ones.
- humectant
-
21
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
General function
A light, refined coconut-derived oil that spreads easily and does not go rancid. It gives slip without a heavy feel.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA light emollient: it softens the surface with noticeably less weight than an oil or a butter.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairSpreads thin and lowers friction between strands without the heaviness of a fixed oil.
- light ester
- emollient
-
22
Coco-Glucoside
General function
A sugar-derived, low-foaming cleanser used in gentle and curly-method shampoos.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA sugar-derived non-ionic detergent, among the gentlest in use. It cleanses with little foam of its own and little sebum removal.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesGentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
23
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
-
24
Carrageenan
General function
A seaweed gum that thickens and adds slip.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdGums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.
- gum
- thickener
-
25
Sorbitan Oleate
- emulsifier
-
26
Chitosan
General function
A shellfish- or fungus-derived polymer that forms a light, positively charged film for body and hold.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdCationic polymers hold a curl loosely and stay soft, which is why they turn up in definition products rather than firm-hold ones.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA cationic polymer stays on the hair through rinsing, which is what keeps static and combing friction down after the wash.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
- film former
- polymer
- conditioning agent
-
27
Algin
General function
A seaweed gum used to thicken and stabilise a formula.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdGums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.
- gum
- thickener
-
28
Xanthan Gum
General function
A fermented sugar gum that thickens water-based formulas and adds soft, natural hold.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdA polysaccharide film stays softer than a synthetic one as it dries, which is what leaves a curl defined but still able to move.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA soft film binds neighbouring strands together, which is most of what helps flyaways lie down.
May not suitMaximum-hold stylingGum films stay soft. A style that needs firm fixation usually wants a synthetic polymer doing the holding.
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
29
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
General function
A conditioning polymer made from guar bean gum. It deposits during rinsing, which is why sulfate shampoos can still leave hair soft.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdGums thicken and set soft, which gives definition that bends rather than a rigid cast.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairCationic conditioners bind to the negatively charged damaged cuticle, laying it flat and cutting the friction that causes combing breakage.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingA styling polymer dries into a film across the strands, which is what makes a shape hold instead of relax.
- conditioning agent
- polymer
- gum
-
30
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
31
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
What the whole list adds up to
- 6 powders
- 6 emollients
- 5 thickeners
- 4 preservatives
- 4 gums
- 3 starchs
- 3 botanical extracts
- 3 oils
- 2 humectants
- 2 vitamins
- 2 film formers
- 2 polymers
- 2 conditioning agents
- 1 fragrance
Ingredient list captured 2026-10-12. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 1 oz
Seen at
$6.99
Good value under
$9
Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $9 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $17 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 2 stores
-
Ulta Beauty
$6.991 oz · $6.99/ozOct 13Lowest per oz
-
Ulta Beauty (ulta.com)
$12.001 oz · $12.00/ozOct 11
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 1 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $6.99 is the price we have observed for the 1 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $9 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $9.05/oz; at 1 oz that is $9. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $17 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 1 oz.
Dry shampoo refreshes hair between washes. We describe its ingredient functions without assigning a formula score.
Does the same job
Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.
CeremoniaClosest function
Dry Shampoo con Arrowroot
$80.00/oz
- Silicone-free
- Alcohol-free
- Function
- Also
BriogeoLowest cost per oz
Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff-Tinted
$52.83/oz
- Silicone-free
- Alcohol-free
- Function
- Also
BriogeoClose function
Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff-Translucent
$52.83/oz
- Silicone-free
- Alcohol-free
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
Depends on your hair: see who it suitsBest user
Silicone-free routines, for a silicone-free formula and a matte finish
Biggest tradeoff
Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, and what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.
0
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
3
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
100% said after using dry shampoo powder, hair smells refreshed
A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.
—
Stated by brand
Only the brand’s testing shows this.
90% said dry shampoo powder absorbs excess oils from scalp and roots
A brand-run study. We report it as stated and do not repeat the number as fact.
—
Stated by brand
Only the brand’s testing shows this.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.
Many say it blends in without a visible white residue and smells pleasant.
Ulta reviewers with lighter or medium hairReviewers like that it is a non-aerosol pump powder that soaks up oil quickly and leaves hair looking fresh between washes.
Ulta reviewers, many with oily roots, 236 reviews overallThe pump dispenser is a recurring complaint: confusing to operate, uneven, messy or leaking in several reviewers' hands.
Lower-rating Ulta reviewersA few reviewers found the fragrance too strong.
Several low-rating Ulta reviewersReviewers with dark hair report a white or caked look that does not blend away, and some find it ineffective on very oily or thick hair.
Lower-rating Ulta reviewersMore from Kristin Ess
How this page was made
- Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- This library-only category has no formula-completeness score or personal routine recommendation.
- 5 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 3 editorial), last checked 2026-10-13.
- Ingredient references are linked for 6 of 23 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
- We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-10-12.
