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Pacifica

Turmeric Guava Thick and Smooth Hair Food Serum

Finisher / Serum, light-reflecting

  • Finisher
  • serum
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Curly-method
  • Vegan · label states
  • Cruelty-free · label states
Size1 fl oz
Price$16seen at one store · 1 oz
Price / oz$16.00/ozat 1 oz

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Listing used for research: ulta.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Priced above most serums

$16.00/oz at 1 oz, more than 78% of the 136 serums , which mostly run $3.94–14.80/oz.

Price and stores

Great for

Protein-hungry hairthat stretches and stays stretched when wet
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Stretching wash daysnothing here needs a detergent to remove
Dull-looking haira recognised shine system is present
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list

Maybe skip if

this product has a scent
Protein-sensitive hairthat goes stiff or straw-like on protein
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Picking it up locallywe’ve only seen it sold in one channel

Whether a finisher this rich looks shiny or greasy on you depends on your strand thickness and how oily your hair gets. Your consultation answers that.

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.

Shine system Single oil

Light esters or a volatile carrier: shine with little residue.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Oils and butters Present, lower down

Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Fast-drying alcohol None

No fast-drying alcohol in the list.

Fragrance Present

Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.

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.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterAqua (Eau) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Panthenol humectant Pulls water into the hair Detangles
Propanediol humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
Dextran polymer The hold system Holds
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 active The over-the-counter active Active
Trifolium Pratense FlowerTrifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower — — Neutral
Xanthan Gum gum Natural hold and clump definition Holds
Sodium Benzoate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Caffeine active A secondary active Active
FragranceParfum (Natural) fragrance The scent Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-forward: a strengthening formula, not a moisture one. Contains fragrance. Recorded as vegan and cruelty-free.
Full ingredient list (25)

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 Water · Aqua (Eau)
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 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.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    It hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Deposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • conditioning agent
    • vitamin
  • 3 Propanediol
    General function

    A corn-derived humectant and solvent, often chosen as a lighter-feeling alternative to propylene glycol.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • solvent
  • 4 Dextran
    General function

    A polysaccharide polymer used as a thickener and binder in serums and scalp treatments, helping increase viscosity and hold ingredients together.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • polymer
    • thickener
    • binder
  • 5 Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
    General function

    A small synthetic peptide included in scalp serums and scalp treatments marketed for fuller-looking hair, often as part of a branded complex alongside red clover extract. It is a formulated active rather than a cleansing or conditioning agent.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • active
    • protein
  • 6 Trifolium Pratense Flower · Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower
  • 7 Xanthan Gum
    General function

    A fermented sugar gum that thickens water-based formulas and adds soft, natural hold.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    A 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 hair

    A soft film binds neighbouring strands together, which is most of what helps flyaways lie down.

    May not suitMaximum-hold styling

    Gum films stay soft. A style that needs firm fixation usually wants a synthetic polymer doing the holding.

    • gum
    • thickener
    • film former
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 8 Sodium Benzoate
    General function

    A food-grade preservative that works only in acidic formulas, which is why it usually appears alongside citric acid.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 9 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 10 Ethylhexylglycerin
    General function

    A preservative booster that also adds a little softness. Almost always paired with phenoxyethanol.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    PubChem
    • preservative
    • emollient
  • 11 Sodium Hyaluronate
    General function

    A large water-binding molecule that sits on the surface holding moisture.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hair

    High-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 hair

    Binds 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 hair

    A 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
  • 12 Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract · Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) Fruit Extract
    • botanical extract
  • 13 Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract
    • botanical extract
    • antioxidant
  • 14 Arginine
    General function

    An amino acid that holds water and carries a positive charge, so it is drawn to damaged spots on the strand.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Amino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    DependsProtein-sensitive hair

    The lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.

    PubChem
    • amino acid
    • humectant
  • 15 Lactic Acid
    General function

    An acid used to set pH and, in scalp products, to loosen flakes.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hair

    High-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 hair

    Binds 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 hair

    A 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.

    PubChem
    • pH adjuster
    • humectant
    • exfoliant
  • 16 Glycine Soja (Soybean) Germ Extract
    • botanical extract
  • 17 Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
    • botanical extract
  • 18 Scutellaria Baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap) Root Extract
  • 19 Caffeine
    • active
  • 20 Psidium Guajava Seed Oil
    • emollient
    • oil
  • 21 Biotin
    • vitamin
  • 22 Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract
    • botanical extract
    • antioxidant
  • 23 Butylene Glycol
    General function

    A light humectant and carrier that helps extracts dissolve.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It 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 hair

    Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • solvent
  • 24 Tocopherol
    • antioxidant
    • vitamin
  • 25 Fragrance · Parfum (Natural)
    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 zone

    It 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 routines

    Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.

    • fragrance
    • declared fragrance

What the whole list adds up to

  • 6 humectants
  • 5 botanical extracts
  • 3 solvents
  • 3 vitamins
  • 3 preservatives
  • 3 antioxidants
  • 2 thickeners
  • 2 actives
  • 2 emollients
  • 1 conditioning agent
  • 1 polymer
  • 1 binder
  • 1 protein
  • 1 gum

Ingredient list captured 2026-09-09. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 1 oz

Seen at $16 lowest of 2 stores · checked Sep 9
Good value under $7 Under $7.13/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 7 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $7 line; products that do this job typically go for about $16 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it3 listings · 3 stores

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. 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.
  2. Seen at $16 is the price we have observed for the 1 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $7 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $7.13/oz; at 1 oz that is $7. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $16 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 1 oz.

Formula

Formula score
8 of 10

It costs more per ounce than 78% of the 136 serums we’ve priced, and the formula carries the systems the format is built around. Nothing in our library comes close enough on formula to be a cheaper substitute.

How the score is counted
  • Nothing in our library does the same job at a lower price
  • Costs more per ounce than 78% of the 136 serums we’ve priced
  • Covers 5 of the 6 things a serum should do
  • Reviewers mention 3 things they like about how it performs
  • A shine systemThe silicone, oil, or ester that produces gloss.3 pts
  • A weightless carrierDelivers the shine without leaving grease.2 pts
  • Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
  • An antioxidantKeeps the oils in the bottle from going off.1 pt
  • No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

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.

UNITE HairFragrance-free BOOSTA PLUS+ Hair Serum $27.75/oz $11.75/oz more
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Protein
· Close function
Function
  • Oils and butters
Also
  • Unscented
  • Prestige tier
  • 2 oz bottle
Compare
Paul MitchellFragrance-free Platinum Plus Violet Toning Drops $24.71/oz $8.71/oz more
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Protein-free
· Close function
Function
  • Oils and butters
  • Protein
Also
  • Unscented
  • 0.8 oz bottle
  • Sold online
Compare
DavinesLowest cost per oz RENEWING Serum Superactive $15.68/oz $0.32/oz less
  • Lightweight
  • Silicone-free
  • Rinses clean
· Related function
Function
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Protein
  • Fast-drying alcohol
Also
  • Prestige tier
  • 3.4 oz bottle
Compare

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

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

An above-range pick for the hair it suits
Best user

Soft, over-stretchy hair, looking for protein high in the formula and something that will not weigh hair down

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, hair that stiffens on protein, or very dry or very humid climates

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.

2
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
3
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
an advanced serum for long-term hair fullness and vitality

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

clean ingredients

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

cruelty-free

Our researched record has this brand as cruelty-free.

—

Supported

Matches our researched record.

vegan

Our researched record has this brand or product as vegan.

—

Supported

Matches our researched record.

made in the USA

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

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 reviewers use it as a nightly or daily scalp massage and describe the scalp feeling calmer and more comfortable afterward.

Ulta shoppers, including some who bought it specifically for scalp tenderness or a scalp issue

Reviewers with fine or thin hair say the serum absorbs fully and leaves no residue or weighed-down feeling, unlike heavier oils.

Ulta shoppers, several self-describing as having fine or thin hair

Reviewers report a visible boost in hair volume, thickness and body, particularly on fine or thinning hair.

Ulta shoppers, several self-describing as having fine, thin or wavy hair

More from Pacifica

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.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 5 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 2 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-09-09.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 6 of 9 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 2026-09-09.

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