“Gee, your hair smells like cherry blossoms and almond milk!” Güd by Burt’s Bees' Floral Cherrynova Natural Nourishing Shampoo claims a lot more than great smelling hair. This column will review the ingredient listing for claims substantiation and functionality.
This mild, conditioning shampoo is based on the primary surfactants sodium coco-sulfate and sodium bis-hydroxethylglycinate coco-glucosides crosspolymer and the secondary surfactants betaine, disodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl glutamate. While the shampoo is not sulfate- free, it avoids sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, which have fallen from grace in the natural marketplace.
Conditioning and thickening are provided by guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, which leaves hair soft and manageable “so it’ll ask to be touched.” Soy-derived, high foaming polypeptide derivative sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein provides the “indulgent” foaminess. Nourishing botanical extracts of rice (high in the list), hibiscus, peppermint, sage, thyme and nettle leaves in addition to essential oils of oregano leaf and thyme help to bulk up the label with “natural” ingredients. Moisturizing amino acids sodium polyaspartate and arginine, conditioning hydrolyzed jojoba protein and emollient lauryl lactyl lactate all support the shine claim.
The high fragrance load is stabilized by the PEG-free solubilizer polyglyceryl-4caparate. The paraben-free preservative system consists of potassium sorbate, which is not broad-spectrum on its own but may be boosted by leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate. In this product, any ingredient listed after the fragrance, which is high up in the list compared to competitive products, is present in the formula at less than 1%. “No parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals” are supported claims. As for the claim, “no animal testing, no way,” the consumer will have to take Burt’s Bees word.
