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ingredient glossary


We believe in beauty with a clean conscious.

We prioritize ingredient safety over source, meaning that we look for effective, safe ingredients & green processes. While we prefer plant-based ingredients, we will use clean synthetics to achieve optimal results. We source from partners who share our care for environmental, animal, and human safety. We avoid questionable ingredients & look to the EWG (Environmental Working Group) & CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) for research & validation. We look for organic sources for our natural ingredients & additional certification such as EcoCert or Cosmos for ingredients that come from vulnerable regions like the Amazon. 

Ivy & Elder products are fragrance-free and smell only like the ingredients needed to be safe and effective for beautiful hair. 

 

INGREDIENT

WHAT IT DOES, SOURCE, & CATEGORY

Alcohol Denat.

Denatured alcohol is a mixture of ethanol, derived from sugar cane, with a denaturing agent.

Sugar Cane

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice 

Helps condition and smooth hair. I&E uses a decolorized version.  

Aloe

Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter

A natural alternative to silicone from a Brazilian nut. Smooths, protects, adds shine while detangling.

Murumuru Seed

Behentrimonium Chloride

Made from colza oil, which is derived from the oilseed turnip. Conditions, softens, fights static, & helps rebuild dry, damaged hair.

Colza oil from a brassica napus (oilseed turnip) plant

Behenyl/Stearyl Aminopropanediol Esters 

Helps to restructure hair cuticle and prevent broken hair and split ends. Created without solvents from two vegetable fatty acids.

Vegetable fatty acids

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.  

Caesalpinia Spinosa (Tara) tree of Peruvian Andes

Caprylol Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

A silicone alternative for smoothing.  

Coconut & castor oil

Cetyl Alcohol 

A fatty alcohol derived from plants. Acts as an emollient, emulsifier & thickener. Also known for hair conditioning qualities.

Coconut

Citric Acid

Chelating agent (helps solubilize some ingredients) and ph adjuster.

Citrus Fruits

Crataegus Monogyna (Hawthorn) Berry Extract

Antioxidant that protects hair against UV rays.

Hawthorn Flower

Diheptyl Succinate

Silicone alternative derived from Castor Oil. Helps to detangle & smooth hair. Ours is EcoCert approved.

Castor Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Paraben alternative that enhances preservatives. Also helps to condition hair.

Coconut

Glycerin

A humectant that’s present in all natural lipids (fats), whether animal or vegetable. Ours is vegetable sourced. 

Vegetable fatty acids

Helianthus Annuss Sprout Extract

Conditioning and powerful anti-oxidant that helps to protect hair from heat and UV stressors.

Sunflower

Linum Usitalssimum Seed Extract

Hair conditioning ingredient.

Linseed

Maltodextrin

Produced from a starch such as corn, rice or potato. Helps to thicken a formula.

Corn, potato or rice.

Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil

Alternative to silicone. Smooths, protects, adds shine. Improves combability.

Babassu seed

Panthenol

Alcohol form of the Vitamin B5 pantothenic acid. Helps hold moisture.

Vitamin B5

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.

Pracaxi seeds

Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate

Emmolient and emulsifying ingredient.

Vegetable fatty acids

Potassium Sorbate

Paraben alternative used as a preservative. derived from a naturally occurring antimicrobial. Originally isolated from berries of Rowan trees.

Sorbic acid, Potassium Salt

Propanediol

Preservative-boosting humectant made from renewable corn sugar fermentation. Alternative to petroleum derived Propylene Glycol.

Corn

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Conditioning and smoothing ingredient.  

White Willow Tree Bark

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.

Chia Seed

Sodium Politacatonate

Alternative to petrochemically-derived equivalents. Enhances waves, adds gloss & reduces frizz.

Corn

Tocopherol

Vitamin-E derived from vegetable oil. A powerful anti-oxidant and conditioner.

Vitamin E

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Chelating agent (helps solubilize some ingredients) and preservative booster.

Clean synthetic

Undecane & Tridecane

Silicone alternative known together as Cetiol Ultimate. Eco-Cert, Cosmos & Natrue approved.

Coconut & Palm kernel oil

Water (Aqua)

Helps dissolve ingredients in product.

Water