sheamoisture Strong Hold Styling Gel
sheamoisture SheaMoisture Strong Hold Styling Gel lists 18 ingredients on its label, 17 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
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.
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains essential oilsContains EU-26 allergensContains fragrance
Formulation view Water-based gel with carbomer, shea butter, castor, and linseed oils for occlusive moisture. Mint extract adds cooling. For dry hair/scalp; oily skin caution. Formulator notes mint and viscous castor oil may irritate; high comedogenic risk suggests use on body/hair only, avoiding face.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- AquaPropanediol
- SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
- Polysorbate 20
- EMULSION STABILISING
- Carbomer
- SKIN CONDITIONING
- Mentha Piperita Leaf ExtractLinum Usitatissimum Seed OilButyrospermum Parkii Butter
- FRAGRANCE
- Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Other ingredients
Sodium PolyitaconateParfumGlycerinPhenoxyethanolSodium HydroxideTetrasodium EDTAPotassium SorbateCaramelAcetic AcidAnise Alcohol
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Polysorbate 20 | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Carbomer | EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Polyitaconate | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 1 · – | Green |
| Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil | SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 2 | Green |
| Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | SKIN CONDITIONING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Ricinus Communis Seed Oil | FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING | 0 · 1 | Green |
| Parfum | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Potassium Sorbate | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/4 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Caramel | COLORANT, FRAGRANCE · 限制 IV/146 | — | Yellow |
| Acetic Acid | BUFFERING, FRAGRANCE | 4 · 0 | Green |
| Anise Alcohol | PERFUMING · 限制 III/80 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Polysorbate 20
- Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.
- Carbomer
- Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility
- Sodium Polyitaconate
- Not decoded yet
- Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
- Mint extract for cooling sensation; contains menthol, mild irritation potential.
- Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
- Flaxseed oil; high oleic, emollient; prone to oxidation.
- Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
- Shea butter for occlusive moisturizing; high melt point, rich texture, caution for oily skin.
- Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
- Castor oil for heavy moisturization and film formation; high viscosity, high levels may be comedogenic, blend with other oils.
- Parfum
- Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.
- Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate
- Caramel
- Colorant for brown shades; some processes involve sulfites, check specs.
- Acetic Acid
- Provides sourness or buffering; high concentrations are corrosive, pH control is critical in leave-on products
- Anise Alcohol
- Anethole, one of EU 26 allergens, max 0.5% anhydrous; used in trace for anise-like fixative effect.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-20. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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