December 10th

The Rituals advent calendar had a Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask. I didn't expect any hair products from Rituals, since it doesn't really seem to be their thing, and last years calendar also barely had any. So this was a welcome surprise!

Rituals Elixir Collection Overnight hydrating hair mask ingredient list
Aqua/Water, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Chloride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa (Kernel) Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid (Sunflower Seed) Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Acacia Concinna (Fruit) Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool.

That is a lot of fragrance ingredients.

I mean, I get it. This is Rituals. They are all about the nice scent and the destressing, relaxing experiences and all. That is their brand and their selling point. But still. Damn. 

Parfum/Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene and Linalool. 

Eight (8!) ingredients with the main purpose of adding a smell to this product. I think this might be a record?

It also has some questionable extracts: 

Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Acacia Concinna (Fruit) Extract and Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract. 

I don't like extracts in my products. Legally, you can do almost whatever you want to when "extracting" an ingredient. There is an episode of The Snailcast where Shell of Holysnails talks about how a supplier to her webshop offered her ruby extract to add to her products. Which is completely nonsensical, but explains a lot of what extracts can be. I try to stay clear of them, but it's not so easy.

Too bad though, because otherwise this is a pretty good conditioner!
It has some 'cones, which I like: Dimethicone and Dimethiconol.

Cetearyl Alcohol is the second ingredient after Dimethicone and is an emulsifier, which means it can dissolve oils and be used for cleansing

There is Panthenol which maybe-maybe not penetrates and strengthens hair.

It has Glycerin which is a really good moisturizer and humectant. On top of that, there is and Ethylhexylglycerin, which is a glycerin derivative with the same safety rating as glycerin. 

The conditioner also has some interesting oils: PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Argania Spinosa (Kernel) Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil and Helianthus Annuus Hybrid (Sunflower Seed) Oil. I especially like the camellia oil and wish it was easier for me to get a hold of it in pure form.

It contains some protein too: Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol. I thought it was really interesting that they have two kinds of plant based proteins like this, so is Rituals Overnight hydrating hair mask maybe vegan? 

The conditioner even has a sunscreen ingredient: Benzyl Salicylate.

In total it has 36 ingredients, and I think this would have been a way better conditioner if they had cut it in about half. OR at least removed the last 8, which were basically just fragrances.

The Schwarzkopf Christmas calendar had a leave in conditioner. And a big one! 75 ml. This is actually a full size product! This was a welcome surprise. 

It even has a sort of warm smell that I like. 

So far every other product I've received has gone into my semi-packed travel bag since they are travel-sized, or they have gone to friends if it has been styling products or shampoos. But this one will go on my hair-products-currently-in-use shelf!

Schwarzkopf BC Peptide Repair Rescue Sealed Ends Aqua ingredient list

(Water, Eau), Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Behenoyl PG-Trimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Panthenol, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin