Bosley Hair Youth Restoring Essence

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Butylene Glycol
3. Glycerin
4. Pentylene Glycol
5. 1,2-Hexanediol
6. Bis-ethoxydiglycol cyclohexane 1,4-dicarboxylate
7. Phenoxyethanol
8. Xanthan Gum
9. PPG-6-decyltetradeceth-20
10. Hydroxyethylcellulose
11. Perfume
12. Menthol
13. Pentasodium pentetate
14. Sodium Citrate
15. Citric Acid
16. Lecithin
17. Biotin
18. Ethoxydiglycol
19. Disodium adenosine triphosphate
20. Panthenyl ethyl ether
21. Tocopheryl nicotinate
22. Caffeine
23. Aminomethyl propanol
24. Ubiquinone
25. Panthenol
26. Isomalt
27. Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
28. Maltodextrin
29. Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
30. Alcohol
31. PPG-26-Buteth-26
32. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
33. Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
34. Glycine soja/Soybean Protein
35. Sodium Metabisulfite
36. Centella Asiatica Extract
37. Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract
38. Dextran
39. Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract
40. Glycine
41. Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
42. Zinc chloride
43. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
44. Apigenin
45. Oleanolic acid
46. Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
47. Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
48. Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
49. Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
50. 10-Hydroxydecanoic acid
51. 1,10-Decanediol
52. Sebacic acid
53. Oligopeptide-41

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains alcoholContains mineral oilContains animal-derived

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING

Pentylene Glycol1,2-Hexanediol

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Bis-ethoxydiglycol cyclohexane 1,4-dicarboxylate

ANTIMICROBIAL

Phenoxyethanol

BINDING

Xanthan Gum

Other ingredients

PPG-6-decyltetradeceth-20HydroxyethylcellulosePerfumeMentholPentasodium pentetateSodium CitrateCitric AcidLecithinBiotinEthoxydiglycolDisodium adenosine triphosphatePanthenyl ethyl etherTocopheryl nicotinateCaffeineAminomethyl propanolUbiquinonePanthenolIsomaltMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture ExtractMaltodextrinEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem ExtractAlcoholPPG-26-Buteth-26PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilSyringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture ExtractGlycine soja/Soybean ProteinSodium MetabisulfiteCentella Asiatica ExtractPueraria Mirifica Root ExtractDextranPinus Sylvestris Cone ExtractGlycineArgania Spinosa Callus Culture ExtractZinc chlorideCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractApigeninOleanolic acidAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3Trifolium Pratense Flower ExtractTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2Biotinoyl Tripeptide-110-Hydroxydecanoic acid1,10-DecanediolSebacic acidOligopeptide-41

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Bis-ethoxydiglycol cyclohexane 1,4-dicarboxylate

Ethoxydiglycol ester; humectant and emulsion stabilizer; low irritancy, aids thickening and conditioning.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

PPG-6-decyltetradeceth-20

Not decoded yet

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.

Perfume

Perfume/Fragrance blend. Opaque composition, a leading cause of contact dermatitis. Must list specific EU 26 allergens if present. Patch test required.

Menthol

Cooling and soothing agent at 0.5–2%; high levels may cause sensitivity or irritation, use caution around eyes and mucous membranes

Pentasodium pentetate

Gentle chelator replacing EDTA; prevents oxidation discoloration, low dosage

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate for buffering and chelating; adjust pH, careful with strong acid reactions.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Biotin

Vitamin B7 nutrient claimant; topical effect limited, use at 1-20 ppm.

Ethoxydiglycol

Ethoxydiglycol; high-perf solv/humectant; low irrit, EU limit 20%, watch total PEG load

Disodium adenosine triphosphate

ATP salt as skin conditioning agent; water-soluble, use at low concentrations.

Panthenyl ethyl ether

Hair conditioning agent with antistatic properties, common in hair care

Tocopheryl nicotinate

Vitamin E nicotinate for antioxidant and soothing; oil-soluble, protects actives, mild feel.

Caffeine

Active ingredient, 0.1–2%; promotes circulation, irritation risk at high concentration.

Aminomethyl propanol

pH buffer at 0.1–1%; irritating at high levels, avoid direct mixing with strong acids/bases

Ubiquinone

Coenzyme Q10 analog used as an antioxidant; prone to discoloration, needs protection from light and air.

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Isomalt

Isomalt humectant; tacky at high levels, non-comedogenic, suitable for sugar-free formulas.

Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Cell-culture apple extract for antioxidant skin conditioning

Maltodextrin

High-MW multifunctional excipient for thickening, binding, and emulsion stability; inert, non-penetrating conditioning.

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Botanical extract used as a skin conditioning agent

Alcohol

Ethanol for solubility/drying at 5-15%; high conc. is drying/irritating, avoid lip/eye, low residue, balance with humectants.

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Not decoded yet

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Solubilizer and emulsifier for oil-soluble ingredients; high concentrations may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive skin.

Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract

Not decoded yet

Glycine soja/Soybean Protein

Not decoded yet

Sodium Metabisulfite

Antioxidant/preservative at 0.05–0.2%; irritating for sensitive skin, avoid with oxidizers

Centella Asiatica Extract

Centella asiatica extract for soothing/repair; low irritation, common in sensitive skin products.

Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract

Not decoded yet

Dextran

Polysaccharide for binding; water-soluble requires preservation.

Pinus Sylvestris Cone Extract

Pine cone extract, antioxidant; listed as fragrance/perfuming, restricted Group III/110, use within limits, watch for allergy.

Glycine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; small molecule, low irritation.

Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract

Not decoded yet

Zinc chloride

Antimicrobial astringent for oral care; usage levels are restricted.

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Green tea extract for antioxidant/astringent; contains caffeine, possible irritation in sensitive skin.

Apigenin

Flavonoid with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; unstable, protect from light.

Oleanolic acid

Oleanolic acid derived from rose petals; terpene compound with floral scent used as a skin conditioning agent.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3

Not decoded yet

Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract

Red clover flower extract; astringent and fragrance, test for sensitization

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Not decoded yet

Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1

Not decoded yet

10-Hydroxydecanoic acid

Long-chain hydroxy fatty acid for emollience and barrier support; control concentration to avoid clogging

1,10-Decanediol

Aliphatic diol solvent; irritant to eyes and compromised skin, avoid direct contact.

Sebacic acid

Sebacic acid; lipophilic buffering agent and skin conditioner; check dispersion in formulation.

Oligopeptide-41

Not decoded yet