Out of the Woods: Bark Appears in Personal Care

Posted: April 22, 2008

page 3 of 4

Yves Saint Laurent's Freshness Cleansing Milky Veil Radiance Revealer for normal to combination skin is a makeup-removing milky gel. It transforms into a fresh fluid to dissolve traces of makeup impurities and pollutants. The product is enriched with revitalizing aloe vera sap and the antimicrobial Enantia chlorantha bark. It is said to refine and improve the quality of the skin, giving it a pleasant and fresh sensation.

Other tree barks are also appearing in hair care:

Jásön Damage Control Creme Shampoo features a unique formula with a French seaweed base. It is a protein-enriched shampoo designed to gently cleanse frizzy, dry and color-treated hair, restoring its natural luster, resilience and softness. It is gentle enough for everyday use. According to the company, this natural hair therapy shampoo contains extracts of quince seed and slippery elm bark, along with plant proteins and Hi-vitamins, to strengthen and nourish dry, brittle hair. The formula does not contain cocamide DEA or lauryl/laureth sulfates, making the product extra mild with medium lather.

Maxius Maxesse Moisturizing Shampoo is said to be ideal for normal, dry, damaged and chemically treated hair. It contains cherry bark and chamomile, with sodium PCA and panthenol to help restore and maintain hair's natural moisture balance, and it is enriched with vitamins A and E to strengthen and rejuvenate. The product has not been tested on animals.

CTonics Tantra Organic Shampoo is a soothing and therapeutic cleansing tonic with imported Swedish pine tar oil, Salix alba and Quillaja saponaria (soap bark) extract, a natural foaming agent. The shampoo is designed to improve scalp conditions such as dandruff, psoriasis, eczema and inflammation, creating equilibrium and stability for problematic hair and scalps. It is recommended for use as an ongoing treatment to exfoliate the scalp and remove dirt, bacteria, fungal growth and hair shaft coatings. It is reportedly suitable for all hair types and is free from sulfates, petrochemicals and artificial colors.