OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo
Summary
OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo scores 30/100 -- a 'natural-leaning' drugstore shampoo with deceptive marketing. The bottle claims the formula is 'without sulfated surfactants, parabens, phthalates, microplastics & dyes' -- two of those four claims are misleading. The Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is classified as a primary microplastic by the EU/ECHA, contradicting the 'no microplastics' claim. The PEG-7 Amodimethicone is a silicone-PEG hybrid that builds up on hair like any other silicone. The formula uses Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate as primary surfactant (milder than SLS/SLES but harsher than glucosides), plus Laureth-4 (1,4-dioxane risk) and PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate (PEG, 1,4-dioxane risk). Undisclosed Fragrance. The genuine plant payload is real: Coconut Oil, Coconut Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Albumen, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate (plant-derived film-former replacing acrylates in EU formula). Sodium Benzoate as the only traditional preservative -- a clean choice (no phenoxyethanol, no MCI/MIT). Owned by Vogue International (acquired by Johnson & Johnson Consumer 2016, now part of Kenvue since 2023).
At a glance
Key ingredients 11
Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateBad
Anionic surfactant; milder than SLS/SLES but harsher than glucosides. EWG 2-3.
See more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate →PEG-7 AmodimethiconeVery Bad
Silicone-PEG hybrid; combines the buildup/microplastic-precursor concerns of dimethicone with the 1,4-dioxane contamination risk of ethoxylated ingredients.
See more about PEG-7 Amodimethicone →Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerVery Bad
Synthetic film-forming polymer; ECHA-classified primary microplastic. Directly contradicts OGX's 'no microplastics' marketing claim.
See more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer →PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl TetrastearateBad
Polyethylene glycol ester; 1,4-dioxane contamination risk from ethoxylation.
See more about PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate →Laureth-4Bad
Ethoxylated lauryl alcohol; 1,4-dioxane contamination risk.
See more about Laureth-4 →Fragrance (Parfum)Bad
Undisclosed fragrance; no itemized allergens listed.
See more about Fragrance (Parfum) →Cocamidopropyl BetaineGood
Coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant; gentle co-surfactant.
See more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine →Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil + Coconut Fruit ExtractVery Good
Lauric-acid-rich coconut oil; one of the few oils that penetrates the hair cortex and reduces protein loss during washing.
See more about Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil + Coconut Fruit Extract →Hydrolyzed Milk Protein + AlbumenGood
Milk-derived proteins; provide cuticle-binding amino acids similar to hydrolyzed keratin.
See more about Hydrolyzed Milk Protein + Albumen →Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch DodecenylsuccinateGood
Plant-derived film-former; cleaner alternative to acrylate microplastics. EWG 1.
See more about Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate →Sodium BenzoateGood
Food-grade preservative; EWG 1-3. Clean choice -- replaces phenoxyethanol and MCI/MIT.
See more about Sodium Benzoate →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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