ingredients

everything in the bottle, and why it's there.

a short formula, honestly explained. fragrance-free, with every ingredient there to do one clear job: soothing, hydrating, or supporting the skin barrier.

formula status: not yet locked · safety assessment in progress

what we left out

a short formula is mostly about what you don't add.

these are the decisions we made on purpose.

  • fragrance and essential oils nothing in this bottle is there for how it smells. people with reactive scalps told us it's the first thing they check for, so it was the first thing we cut.
  • menthol, peppermint and other cooling agents a tingle feels like something's happening. we'd rather the serum was quiet.
  • drying alcohol often used to make a serum feel fast-drying. we went with a light water base and accepted a few extra seconds.
  • colourants it's the colour it is.
  • silicones good for slip and shine on hair. this is skincare, not haircare, and it wasn't needed.

niacinamide

INCI: Niacinamide

barrier support

what it is

a form of vitamin b3. water-soluble, one of the most-studied ingredients in skincare, and the backbone of this formula.

what it does in this formula

helps support the skin's natural barrier, so the scalp holds on to moisture rather than losing it. skin that keeps its moisture tends to feel less tight and less dry.

what we're not claiming

that it treats or clears any skin or scalp condition. that it reduces redness or calms inflammation: we have no study on this product, and that's medical territory anyway. that it does anything for hair growth or oil.

ectoin

INCI: Ectoin

moisture retention

what it is

an extremolyte: a small molecule that certain microorganisms make to survive extreme heat, salt and dryness. made by fermentation for cosmetics. the most expensive ingredient in the bottle, and the one the formula was built around.

what it does in this formula

binds water tightly around itself and helps skin hold on to moisture. in a leave-on serum, that's what keeps a dry-feeling scalp comfortable.

what we're not claiming

that it repairs damaged skin. that it protects against pollution, uv or "stress": we'll only say that if our supplier's data supports it for this formula, and it isn't on this site until then. that it treats any skin or scalp condition.

panthenol

INCI: Panthenol

hydration & softness

what it is

pro-vitamin b5. a humectant that's been used in skin and hair products for decades.

what it does in this formula

draws water into the upper layers of the skin and helps it stay there. leaves the scalp feeling soft and comfortable rather than tight, and won't weigh down the hair it touches.

what we're not claiming

that it heals or repairs anything. that it treats flaking, itch or any skin or scalp condition.

betaine

INCI: Betaine

hydration & comfort

what it is

an amino-acid derivative found naturally in skin, usually sourced from sugar beet for cosmetics. an osmolyte: it helps cells manage their water balance.

what it does in this formula

a humectant that helps skin hold water, and helps the serum feel gentle and non-tight as it goes on.

what we're not claiming

that it's an "anti-irritant" or that it stops itch. that it's proven for sensitive skin: there's no product-specific study, and we won't pretend there is.

full ingredient list

ingredient list being updated

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