ouai Leave-In Conditioner

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. Cyclopentasiloxane
3. Cetearyl Alcohol
4. Quaternium-91
5. Parfum
6. Phenoxyethanol
7. Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
8. Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
9. Oenothera Biennis Oil
10. Tocopheryl Acetate
11. Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
12. Tamarindus Indica Extract
13. Panthenol
14. Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
15. Arginine
16. Aspartic Acid
17. Pca
18. Glycine
19. Alanine
20. Serine
21. Valine
22. Isoleucine
23. Proline
24. Threonine
25. Sodium Hyaluronate
26. Histidine
27. Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
28. Cetrimonium Chloride
29. Glycerin
30. Dipropylene Glycol
31. Polysilicone-29
32. Behentrimonium Chloride
33. Myristyl Myristate
34. Silicone Quaternium-16
35. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
36. Butylene Glycol
37. Undeceth-11
38. Butyloctanol
39. Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
40. Undeceth-5
41. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
42. Sodium PCA
43. Sodium Lactate
44. Phenylalanine
45. Disodium EDTA
46. Potassium Sorbate
47. Citric Acid
48. Citronellol
49. Geraniol
50. Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
51. Cinnamyl Alcohol
52. Citral
53. Linalool
54. Hydroxycitronellal
55. Limonene

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains essential oils

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

CyclopentasiloxaneCetearyl AlcoholAdansonia Digitata Seed OilArgania Spinosa Kernel OilOenothera Biennis Oil

FRAGRANCE

Parfum

ANTIMICROBIAL

Phenoxyethanol

Other ingredients

Quaternium-91Tocopheryl AcetateHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae ExtractTamarindus Indica ExtractPanthenolCetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea ProteinArginineAspartic AcidPcaGlycineAlanineSerineValineIsoleucineProlineThreonineSodium HyaluronateHistidineBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil CopolymerCetrimonium ChlorideGlycerinDipropylene GlycolPolysilicone-29Behentrimonium ChlorideMyristyl MyristateSilicone Quaternium-16Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltrateButylene GlycolUndeceth-11ButyloctanolGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideUndeceth-53-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidSodium PCASodium LactatePhenylalanineDisodium EDTAPotassium SorbateCitric AcidCitronellolGeraniolAlpha-Isomethyl IononeCinnamyl AlcoholCitralLinaloolHydroxycitronellalLimonene

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Cyclopentasiloxane

Cyclopentasiloxane for emollient/solvent; volatile silicone, smooth feel, check VOC regulations.

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Quaternium-91

Not decoded yet

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.

Phenoxyethanol

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

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Babassu/baobab seed oil, emollient; high oleic/palmitic, prone to oxidation, add antioxidants, store in dark.

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Jojoba oil rich in unsaturated fats; good penetration, non-comedogenic, prone to oxidation requiring antioxidants

Oenothera Biennis Oil

Natural oil rich in GLA; supports barrier, prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract

NOT REPORTED

Tamarindus Indica Extract

Not decoded yet

Panthenol

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

Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Not decoded yet

Arginine

Arginine for moisturizing/conditioning; amino acid, high biocompatibility, often used in blends.

Aspartic Acid

Amino acid humectant and conditioner, common in rinse-off products; low levels mild, high levels may shift pH

Pca

Proline carboxylic acid, NMF component; humectant, generally low irritation but may sensitise.

Glycine

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

Alanine

Amino acid for antistatic and conditioning; low irritation, slight salty taste at high levels

Serine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; high water solubility, compatible with sensitive skin.

Valine

Amino acid humectant, common in amino acid cleansers and sprays; mild, suitable for all skin types

Isoleucine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning and antistatic purposes; often blended; check taste if high.

Proline

Proline, amino-acid humectant; boosts stratum corneum hydration, stable at pH 4-5.

Threonine

Threonine, essential amino acid for hair/skin; blended with other AAs for balance.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Histidine

Amino acid humectant and antistatic agent; pH-dependent behavior, consider buffering in formulation.

Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer

Plant oil copolymer for film formation and improved feel.

Cetrimonium Chloride

Cationic surfactant/preservative for conditioning; irritating at high levels, restricted use

Glycerin

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

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Polysilicone-29

Not decoded yet

Behentrimonium Chloride

Cationic conditioner and preservative; used within restricted limits, high doses may irritate.

Myristyl Myristate

Di-C14 ester, waxy solid for thickening and conditioning; provides matte and smooth feel, low comedogenicity, good for compacts.

Silicone Quaternium-16

Not decoded yet

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Bio-fermented filtrate for antimicrobial and anti-dandruff effects; assess individual variability, avoid in known allergy.

Butylene Glycol

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

Undeceth-11

Not decoded yet

Butyloctanol

Ester solvent/humectant, adjusts spreadability; low volatility, may leave residue, watch for cross-sensitivity in allergy-prone users.

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Cationic guar derivative for antistatic, film-forming, viscosity control; common in hair/skin conditioning

Undeceth-5

Not decoded yet

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Water-soluble Vitamin C derivative; more stable than ascorbic acid, sensitive to metals and alkali.

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Phenylalanine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning; usually part of a blend, no significant standalone efficacy data

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Citric Acid

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

Citronellol

Citronellol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Geraniol

Geraniol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Vanilla-like fragrance ingredient; one of EU 26 allergens, caution advised for sensitive skin.

Cinnamyl Alcohol

Restricted fragrance in EU; banned at ≥0.1%; used in trace amounts or as precursor.

Citral

Citral; citrus fragrance component, listed EU allergen, high phototoxicity risk, strict concentration limits apply.

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Hydroxycitronellal

Hydroxycitronellal, sensitizing fragrance, EU limit <0.1%; avoid use as aerosol propellant.

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

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