Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foaming

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier. It is a surfactant derived from sarcosine, and a common source is coconut oil. As a surfactant, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate helps lift dirts, oil, and other molecules to be washed away. In leave-on products, this ingredient is used as an emulsifier. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients such as oils and waters from separating.

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is also commonly found as a foaming agent in shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving foam. It is amphiphilic, meaning it loves both water and fats.

Decyl Glucoside

Cleansing, Emulsion Stabilising

Decyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.

Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away. As an emulsion stabilizer, it stabilizes the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.

This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.

Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.

Learn more about Decyl Glucoside

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Glycol Distearate

Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Glycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.

It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.

It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.

Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Glycol Distearate

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Cleansing, Foaming

This ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.

According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.

Amodimethicone

This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.

In haircare, this ingredient:

Adds shine
Protects color
Offers thermal protection
Boosts hair strength
Does not build up as easily

Polyquaternium-10

Polyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.

This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.

For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.

Learn more about Polyquaternium-10

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

Cleansing, Foaming

Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.

In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.

As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.

Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.

Learn more about Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer

We don't have a description for Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer yet.

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.

Laureth-9

Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Laureth-9 yet.

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Trideceth-12

Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Trideceth-12 yet.

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Learn more about Panthenol

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Maleic Bond Repair Complex Hair Treatment Shampoo

When to use

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo 62 ingredients

Minimalist Maleic Bond Repair Complex Hair Treatment Shampoo 50 ingredients

43 Routines

47% use in am

53% use in pm

65% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

1 Routine

100% use in am

0% use in pm

100% use every 3_days

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo 62 ingredients

2.8 /5

from 8 ratings

Color Care (3)

BubbIes

1 year ago

Review

You honestly shouldn’t be using this unless you have color treated hair, which is something I realized after using this for awhile. This is very heavy, I found that it weighed my hair down and made it look lifeless.

#color care

Olaplex

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Butter

1 month ago

Review

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 🤎

⚠️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢/𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝!!

🍄 𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞: 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐲 (𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝟐𝐚), 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐲𝐞. 𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲.

🪴 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 (𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐥).
ೃ⁀➷ 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐲𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 Show more

#color care

Olaplex

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo