Hi everyone, I’m bringing back my ingredient breakdown series today which I started a loooong time ago. My last upload was in June 2020, so it’s been a long time since I posted an update. In this series, I basically delve deep into the ingredients of popular hair care products, and in this post I am going to be looking at the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Watermelon & Pomegranate shampoo & conditioner. I have been focusing on my hair a lot lately and trying to make it healthier! I’ve decreased the amount I wash it, used less heat & added in some more hair care products such as hair oils & olaplex. I am definitely starting to see the effects in my hair – it’s looking healthier, feeling so soft & getting greasy slower.
I picked up this Garnier Ultimate Blends duo when it was released not long ago. It is a newer addition to the Hair Food range. I was intrigued by this as it is targeted at people with fine hair, and promises to ‘plump’ the hair without weighing it down. The shampoo has 96% natural origin ingredients, and the conditioner has 97% natural origin ingredients so I am hoping they won’t be too bad for the hair. I have been washing my hair twice a week, I only use this once a week, and on my other wash I use the function of beauty shampoo & conditioner which I have reviewed in the past. (not a sponsor – I just wanted to try it!)
As I mentioned, my hair has been looking healthier lately, but I am doing lots of other things to look after my hair, so I can’t say that this is down to these Garnier products. I want to look into the ingredients of this to see if this is good for my hair, or whether I should be staying away from this if I want to continue on my hair care journey. One thing I will say is that immediately after washing my hair with these products, my hair does appear more ‘plumped’ and has more volume!
INGREDIENTS
SHAMPOO
*the higher the ingredient the more there is within the product
Aqua – Water
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – This is a surfactant found in many personal care products and produces the lather in the shampoo, (because it breaks down the molecules to allow better interaction between the hair and shampoo). Although this is deemed as safe to use by many organisations, it is a known irritant to skin and eyes. It is also believed to cause dry and brittle hair, so some people try to stay away from this.
Coco-Glucoside – A surfactant found in a lot of natural hair care. It can provide lather without irritating the scalp. It is known to be more gentle.
Coco-Betaine – A mild surfactant which is gentle.
Punica Granatum Extract – Pomegranate.
Coconut Oil
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract – Watermelon.
Glycerin – This binds water which is mainly derived from vegetable oil. It isn’t usually in shampoo’s and is more commonly found in conditioner’s. It is known to prevent breakage in hair and leaves hair feeling soft.
Glyceryl Oleate – A conditioning agent which makes hair look glossy.
Triethyl Citrate – From citric acid. Fragrance.
Lecithin – Supports the required amount of protein for hair growth, whilst also improving the texture and look of hair by adding shine.
Sodium Chloride – Also known as salt! This is used the thicken the product and is safe to use.
Sodium Hydroxide – Produces lather and can be a PH balancer.
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate – A moisturising ingredient. Researching this ingredient it appears to be a derivative of palm oil. Many people stay away from palm oil as farming it is incredibly bad for the planet.
Hydroxypropyl Guar – A thickening ingredient.
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride – To make hair feel smooth and detangled. Fine in rinse off products.
Citric Acid – This can cause irritation. Comes from citrus fruit.
Tocopherol – Vitamin E. Supports healthy scalp and hair. A natural anti-oxidant and could assist with maintaining hair growth.
Ascorbyl Palmitate – A form of vitamin C. Another anti-oxidant.
Sodium Benzoate – This ingredient is found naturally in cranberries, cinnamon and other foods. It is used is shampoo as a preservative.
Salicylic Acid – Works to remove build up by gently exfoliating the scalp, and can help to balance oil levels.
Linalool – Used in floral fragrances. Occurs naturally in essential oils.
Geraniol – Fragrance.
Limonene – Fragrance from citrus fruit. An irritate that can cause sensitivity.
Citral – Fragrance. Lemongrass oils with orange, lemon and verbena.
Benzyl Alcohol – A natural, non volatile alcohol used as a preservative. However, in products, we often find a synthetic version rather than the natural version. It is safe in the quantity that it is found in hair care products.
Parfum – Fragrance.
CONDITIONER
*Anything without a description is listed above.
Aqua
Cetearyl Alcohol – An emulsifier and surfactant. Could be an environmental toxin.
Glycerin
Isopropyl Myristate – Provides sheen. Can cause some irritation.
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine – A silicone replacement derived from vegetable oil.
Soybean Oil – Good for moisture retention.
Sunflower Seed Oil – An anti-oxidant which also nourishes and soothes dry hair.
Punica Granatum Extract
Coconut Oil
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Coco-Caprylate – Conditioning agent derived from coconut oil.
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Caprylyl Gylcol – Humectant agent which means it hydrates the hair by attracting and retaining water.
Citric Acid
Tartaric Acid – pH adjuster used to control the pH level in cosmetic products.
Cetyl Esters – A wax mixture acting as a lubricant for soft, smooth hair.
Salicylic Acid
Linalool
Geraniol
Limonene
Citral
Benzyl Alcohol
Parfum
That’s all the ingredients! I am mostly pleased with what I have found. Not too many harmful ingredients at all, and I like that this is vegan and not tested on animals.
However, the issues I have are in the Palm Oil derivative, and the sulfate. I would quite like to stay away from sulfate as I do have fine hair that seems to be prone to breakage, so I don’t really want to be using something that makes this problem worse. I am only using it once a week, so it is more than likely fine! However, I am considering just solely using function of beauty once these Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Watermelon & Pomegranate are used up.
These bottles are fully recyclable and the bottles say that the factory is committed to sustainability, so it would be amazing if they could remove the palm oil derived ingredient.
I will definitely continue to use this watermelon & pomegranate hair care duo, and I would consider repurchasing, but I am not 100% sure yet.
Let me know what you think in the comments below & don’t forget to check out other posts in my ingredient breakdown series:
Ingredient Breakdown #6 – L’oreal Elvive Dream Lengths Shampoo & Conditioner
Ingredient Breakdown #2 – John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating shampoo & conditioner
Ingredient Breakdown #9 – Pantene Hair Biology Full & Vibrant Shampoo & Conditioner
Jazmin xx