Olaplex clarifying shampoo

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. Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
3. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
4. Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
5. Coco-Betaine
6. Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
7. Acrylates Copolymer
8. Cocamidopropyl Betaine
9. Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
10. Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
11. Decyl Glucoside
12. Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
13. Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
14. Phenoxyethanol
15. Coco-Glucoside
16. Lauryl Glucoside
17. Chlorphenesin
18. Panthenol
19. Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
20. Ethylhexylglycerin
21. Sodium Benzoate
22. Polyquaternium-11
23. Benzoic Acid
24. Sodium PCA
25. Pentasodium Triphosphate
26. Sodium Lactate
27. Arginine
28. Aspartic Acid
29. Pca
30. Citric Acid
31. Glycine
32. Alanine
33. Serine
34. Valine
35. Isoleucine
36. Proline
37. Threonine
38. Histidine
39. Phenylalanine
40. Fragrance
41. Citral
42. Hexyl Cinnamal
43. Limonene

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains sulfatesContains fragranceContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oils

Formulation view Gentle cleanser using SLES derivatives and amino acid surfactants, with glucosides for foam. Contains acrylate polymer conditioning and amino acid blends. Phenoxylethanol/chlorphenesin preservation. Suitable for sensitive skin daily cleansing. Factory note: Complex surfactant mix requires precise ionic strength control to prevent precipitation; preservation is pH-dependent.

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

CLEANSING

Sodium Lauroyl Methyl IsethionateDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

ANTISTATIC

Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineSodium Lauroyl GlutamateCoco-BetaineAcrylates CopolymerCocamidopropyl Betaine

Other ingredients

Cocamidopropylamine OxideSodium Methyl Oleoyl TaurateDecyl GlucosideBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol DimaleateSodium Lauryl SulfoacetatePhenoxyethanolCoco-GlucosideLauryl GlucosideChlorphenesinPanthenolTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateEthylhexylglycerinSodium BenzoatePolyquaternium-11Benzoic AcidSodium PCAPentasodium TriphosphateSodium LactateArginineAspartic AcidPcaCitric AcidGlycineAlanineSerineValineIsoleucineProlineThreonineHistidinePhenylalanineFragranceCitralHexyl CinnamalLimonene

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

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

Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate

Mild anionic surfactant at 0.5–10%; fine foam, lower irritation than soaps, suitable for gentle cleansing.

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Mild amino acid amphoteric surfactant for cleansing and foam boosting; low irritation, biodegradable

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate

Amino acid surfactant, gentle and suitable for sensitive skin; moderate cleansing power.

Coco-Betaine

Mild amphoteric cleanser, good foam; may precipitate with cationics, control dose for low irritation

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Mild anionic surfactant, boosts foam/cleaning; low irritancy, common in wash formulations

Acrylates Copolymer

Acrylate synthetic polymer for film forming and antistatic; breathable film, control dosage carefully

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl betaine; zwitterionic co-surfactant reducing irritation and boosting foam, common in mild cleansers.

Cocamidopropylamine Oxide

Cationic/Amphoteric surfactant, foaming/conditioning; allergenic at high levels, blends with anions.

Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate

Mild taurine-based anionic surfactant for emulsification and foam; low irritation, suitable for sensitive cleansers.

Decyl Glucoside

Mild alkyl glucoside, biodegradable; foam stabilizer, thickens with fatty alcohols, low allergenicity.

Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate

Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, hair conditioner; cationic conditioner for post-perm care, control concentration.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

Milder synthetic surfactant with good foam; lower irritation than SLS but still needs buffering; suitable for sensitive cleansers

Phenoxyethanol

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

Coco-Glucoside

Mild non-ionic surfactant for cleansing and foaming; rich foam, low irritation, suitable for sensitive and children's products

Lauryl Glucoside

Mild nonionic surfactant for cleansing; 1-5%, suitable for sensitive skin

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.

Panthenol

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

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Polyquaternium-11

Not decoded yet

Benzoic Acid

Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.

Sodium PCA

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

Pentasodium Triphosphate

Water-soluble chelator and pH adjuster; softens hard water and stabilizes formulation, mild irritation at high conc.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

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.

Citric Acid

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

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.

Histidine

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

Phenylalanine

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

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Citral

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

Hexyl Cinnamal

Common fragrance component (jasmine/vanilla note); listed EU allergen, requires labeling at >10ppm (leave-on).

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

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