Ingredient Glossary
Chosen with integrity, safety, and care.
At Ivy & Elder, ingredient safety always comes first. We combine plant-based ingredients with safe, functional synthetics — including plant-derived silicone alternatives and conditioners — chosen for performance and safety.
We avoid questionable ingredients and rely on trusted research from the EWG (Environmental Working Group) and CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) to guide our choices. Whenever possible, we source organic ingredients and prioritize certifications such as EcoCert or Cosmos, especially when sourcing from sensitive ecosystems.
Our products are always fragrance-free — they smell only like the ingredients themselves, carefully chosen to be safe and effective for healthy, beautiful hair.
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INGREDIENT |
WHAT IT DOES, SOURCE, & CATEGORY |
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Alcohol Denat. |
Denatured alcohol is a mixture of ethanol, derived from sugar cane, with a denaturing agent. |
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Sugar Cane |
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice |
Helps condition and smooth hair. I&E uses a decolorized version. |
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Aloe |
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Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter |
A natural alternative to silicone from a Brazilian nut. Smooths, protects, adds shine while detangling. |
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Murumuru Seed |
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Behentrimonium Chloride |
Made from colza oil, which is derived from the oilseed turnip. Conditions, softens, fights static, & helps rebuild dry, damaged hair. |
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Colza oil from a brassica napus (oilseed turnip) plant |
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Behenyl/Stearyl Aminopropanediol Esters |
Helps to restructure hair cuticle and prevent broken hair and split ends. Created without solvents from two vegetable fatty acids. |
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Vegetable fatty acids |
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Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract (Tara Pods) |
A powerful antioxidant that protects hair from heat and UV stressors. Helps to prevent color fade and strengthen hair. |
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Caesalpinia Spinosa (Tara) tree of Peruvian Andes |
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Caprylol Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer |
A silicone alternative for smoothing. |
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Coconut & castor oil |
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Cetyl Alcohol |
A fatty alcohol derived from plants. Acts as an emollient, emulsifier & thickener. Also known for hair conditioning qualities. |
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Coconut |
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Citric Acid |
Chelating agent (helps solubilize some ingredients) and ph adjuster. |
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Citrus Fruits |
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Crataegus Monogyna (Hawthorn) Berry Extract |
Antioxidant that protects hair against UV rays. |
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Hawthorn Flower |
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Diheptyl Succinate |
Silicone alternative derived from Castor Oil. Helps to detangle & smooth hair. Ours is EcoCert approved. |
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Castor Oil |
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Ethylhexylglycerin |
Paraben alternative that enhances preservatives. Also helps to condition hair. |
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Coconut |
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Glycerin |
A humectant that’s present in all natural lipids (fats), whether animal or vegetable. Ours is vegetable sourced. |
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Vegetable fatty acids |
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Helianthus Annuss Sprout Extract |
Conditioning and powerful anti-oxidant that helps to protect hair from heat and UV stressors. |
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Sunflower |
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Linum Usitalssimum Seed Extract |
Hair conditioning ingredient. |
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Linseed |
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Maltodextrin |
Produced from a starch such as corn, rice or potato. Helps to thicken a formula. |
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Corn, potato or rice. |
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Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil |
Alternative to silicone. Smooths, protects, adds shine. Improves combability. |
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Babassu seed |
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Panthenol |
Alcohol form of the Vitamin B5 pantothenic acid. Helps hold moisture. |
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Vitamin B5 |
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Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil |
Contains high amounts of oleic, linoleic, & bebenic acid, essential fatty acids to help strengthen & condition hair. Also excellent for scalp health. |
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Pracaxi seeds |
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Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate |
Emmolient and emulsifying ingredient. |
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Vegetable fatty acids |
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Potassium Sorbate |
Paraben alternative used as a preservative. derived from a naturally occurring antimicrobial. Originally isolated from berries of Rowan trees. |
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Sorbic acid, Potassium Salt |
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Propanediol |
Preservative-boosting humectant made from renewable corn sugar fermentation. Alternative to petroleum derived Propylene Glycol. |
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Corn |
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Salix Alba Bark Extract |
Conditioning and smoothing ingredient. |
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White Willow Tree Bark |
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Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract |
Rich source of fatty acids from the Chia Seed, including omega-3 plus linolenic and palmitic acids. Provides hydration protective & anti-oxidants. |
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Chia Seed |
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Sodium Politacatonate |
Alternative to petrochemically-derived equivalents. Enhances waves, adds gloss & reduces frizz. |
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Corn |
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Tocopherol |
Vitamin-E derived from vegetable oil. A powerful anti-oxidant and conditioner. |
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Vitamin E |
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Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate |
Chelating agent (helps solubilize some ingredients) and preservative booster. |
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Clean synthetic |
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Undecane & Tridecane |
Silicone alternative known together as Cetiol Ultimate. Eco-Cert, Cosmos & Natrue approved. |
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Coconut & Palm kernel oil |
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Water (Aqua) |
Helps dissolve ingredients in product. |
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Water |