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Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) In-Shower Styler Ingredients Explained

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Updated on October 26, 2023 Submitted by artemisa

Overview

What it is

Styling creams & spray with 26 ingredients

Cool Features

It is cruelty-free and reef safe

Free From

It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

Fun facts

Living Proof is from United States. This product is used in 2 routines created by our community.

We independently verify ingredients and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Does this product need an update? Let us know.

You should know

Here's our breakdown of the notable ingredients, benefits, and concerns we determined from the ingredients in this product. Click any item to learn more.

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Rosacea
Eczema

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

Ingredients Overview

Here's our quick-to-read summary of the ingredients in this product. Keep scrolling if you'd like to learn more about what each ingredient does!
Ingredient
Features
1
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
2
3
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
1-3 / 1-2
May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
4
Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
2 / 4
Fatty Alcohol Icon
5
6
Absorbent
0 / 0
7
8
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
9
Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
2 / 2
Fatty Alcohol Icon
10
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
11
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
3 / 2
12
Emollient, Emulsifying
1 / 0
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
13
Skin Conditioning
14
Antimicrobial, Emulsifying, Preservative
Preservative Icon
15
Emulsion Stabilising
16
Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
17
Cleansing, Emulsifying
18
Emulsifying
2 / 2
19
Emulsifying
2 / 1
20
Masking, Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon
21
Buffering, Masking
AHA IconMay cause irritation IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconMay worsen Rosacea IconHelps brighten skin Icon
22
Preservative
Preservative Icon
23
Perfuming
Fragrance IconEU Allergen Icon
24
Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon
25
Perfuming
Fragrance IconEU Allergen Icon
26
Perfuming
Fragrance IconEU Allergen Icon

Ingredients Explained

This product contains 26 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
2
What it does:

We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-11.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Isodecyl Oleate is created from branched chain decyl alcohol. It has moisturizing and skin softening properties.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne safe.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Myristyl Alcohol is type of fatty alcohol. It is a white, waxy solid and insoluble in water.

As an emollient, it hydrates the skin by trapping moisture in.

Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols.

Learn more about Myristyl Alcohol
5
What it does:

We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-68.

6
What it does: Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate is a type of silica. It comes from naturally occuring minerals such as silicate ores and clay.

Magnesium aluminum silicate is used for enhancing texture and as an absorbent. Due to its large molecular size, it is unable to be absorbed into the skin.

Like other types of silica, this ingredient can be used to thicken a product. As an absorbent, it may be used to absorb extra water or help prevent clumping.

Learn more about Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
7

We don't have a description for Polyalkylaminoester-1.

8
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

We don't have a description for Polyamide-8.

9
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.

Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

10
What it does:

Peg-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.

11
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient comes from propionic acid (a preservative) and myristyl alcohol (a fatty alcohol).

It is an emollient that leaves a dry texture on the skin. According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is non-occlusive.

The 2 stands for the number of repeating units of propylene glycol in the compound.

Chem/IUPAC: Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-(1-oxopropyl)-.omega.-(tetradecyloxy)-

Learn more about Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
12
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate
13
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

14
What it does: Antimicrobial, Emulsifying, Preservative
Community Rating: Liked

This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.

Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.

15
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Hydroxypropyl Guar.

16
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Sclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.

In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.

As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.

Learn more about Sclerotium Gum
17
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying

We don't have a description for Ceteth-20.

18
What it does: Emulsifying

Steareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol.

The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.

19
What it does: Emulsifying

Oleth-10 comes from oleyl alcohol. It is an emulsifier that helps reduce surface tension of dirt and pollutants to be washed away.

20
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum
21
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
22
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

23
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".

Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.

Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.

Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,

Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.

Learn more about Citronellol
24
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool
25
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a synthetic fragrance. You might know it as "lilial". The scent of this ingredient is floral-like and similar to the scent of lily flowers.

In March of 2022, the EU banned this ingredient in both rinse-off and leave-on products. This is because research found Butylphenyl Methylpropional to disrupt fertility in rats.

This ingredient is also a known EU allergen, meaning it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. Irritated skin can be damaging.

We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns or questions about this ingredient.

Learn more about Butylphenyl Methylpropional
26
What it does: Perfuming

Citral is a fragrance and used to add a lemon-like scent to products. It is both naturally found in plants and created synthetically. In plants, it is commonly occurring in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, lemon tea-tree, lemon verbena, and other citruses.

The EU mandates Citral be listed separately as a fragrance. It is a known allergen and may cause contact dermatitis. Citral can also used as a masking ingredient.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.

Learn more about Citral
Embed Ingredients

Here's what our community thinks of the 26 ingredients in this product ✨

8% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
42% are disliked or very disliked
46% have no rating yet

When to use

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

Directions

1. Shampoo and condition hair as usual.
2. Apply this product generously to coat hair from roots to ends while still in the shower.
3. Lightly rinse.
4. Towel dry. Scrunch. Air dry.
This product enhances your natural texture so if you have naturally straight hair, try...

1. Shampoo and condition hair as usual.
2. Apply this product generously to coat hair from roots to ends while still in the shower.
3. Lightly rinse.
4. Towel dry. Scrunch. Air dry.
This product enhances your natural texture so if you have naturally straight hair, try putting your hair in braids or buns and letting it air dry for best results.
USAGE TIPS: It might take some experimentation to figure out how much rinsing you need after applying PhD In-Shower Styler. After you rinse, you still want to feel some product in your hair. Start with dipping you head under the shower for no more than 1 or 2 seconds. In doing so, you rinse out the "extra" ingredients but leave behind cationic resins that bind to hair and flex when dried to enhance natural texture. Try to avoid rinsing too much, as that will lead to removing too much product. PhD In-Shower Styler works best on straight or slightly wavy hair. Use enough PhD In-Shower Styler to coat your hair from root to ends. The amount used will be different for each individual due to hair density and length.

When to use

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