Kimirica Earth Balsam Frankincense Shampoo

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides acemannan-based wound healing and comprehensive moisturising skin conditioning from the quintessential healing plant.

Why It's Used: The most universally recognised natural healing plant — aloe vera's acemannan polysaccharides, vitamins, and enzymes provide a comprehensive wound healing and soothing profile with thousands of years of documented use.

How It Works: Acemannan (poly-mannose) activates dectin-1 for wound healing immune stimulation. gibberellin promotes fibroblast growth. salicylic acid derivative provides anti-inflammatory. vitamins c and e provide antioxidant. glucomannan provides humectant.

Typically Found In: After-sun products,wound healing,moisturisers,virtually all skin care categories

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – aloe vera gel

Secondary Functions: Redness reduction,anti-inflammatory,calming

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%–99%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from aloe barbadensis leaf

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; ideal for reactive and sensitive skin.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes – particularly recommended for sensitive skin

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Ceramides,panthenol,allantoin,hyaluronic acid,centella asiatica

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Aloe vera's clinical evidence for sunburn relief is among the best for any botanical wound healing ingredient. multiple rcts demonstrate that aloe vera gel reduces healing time of first and second degree burns and sunburns, attributed primarily to acemannan's immunomodulatory wound healing activity and the anti-inflammatory salicylate derivatives providing prostaglandin inhibition.

Last Verified: Cosing database,surjushe et al. aloe vera skin review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides osmoprotective humectant conditioning with anti-irritant and mild foam-boosting activity.

Why It's Used: Natural-origin multifunctional osmolyte from sugar beet providing hydration, anti-irritancy, and conditioning in virtually every cosmetic category.

How It Works: Quaternary ammonium betaine provides zwitterionic character for water binding via ionic hydration. osmoprotective function at 100–500mm as compatible solute protecting cells from osmotic stress. reduces surfactant irritation by competing with sls for protein binding sites. mild foam enhancement.

Typically Found In: Virtually all categories — moisturisers, shampoos, cleansers

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – humectant

Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%–10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from beta vulgaris (sugar beet) molasses

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Betaine's anti-irritant mechanism for surfactant systems involves competitive protein protection: betaine at high concentrations preferentially interacts with skin proteins, occupying binding sites that would otherwise be occupied by surfactant molecules causing protein denaturation. this competition reduces available protein binding for irritating surfactants, explaining betaine's well-documented ability to reduce sls irritation when co-formulated.

Last Verified: Cosing database,craig betaine osmoprotective review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides the complete fragrance profile contributing to product sensory experience and consumer appeal.

Why It's Used: Fragrance is a major consumer purchase driver — up to 70% of consumers make purchasing decisions partially based on product scent.

How It Works: Fragrance blends interact with olfactory receptors providing the sensory profile — complex mixtures activate multiple receptor types for rich, multidimensional scent experiences.

Typically Found In: All fragrance products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: Standard use levels

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Ifra guidelines set usage limits for fragrance ingredients based on skin sensitisation and phototoxicity assessment for each application category.

Last Verified: Eu regulation 1223/2009 annex iii,ifra standards,fragrance allergen declaration requirements

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Glycerin pulls water from the environment and deeper skin layers into the outer skin layer (epidermis), boosting moisture levels and keeping skin soft, smooth, and plump.

Why It's Used: It is used in virtually every moisturizer, serum, and cleanser because it is highly effective at hydrating skin, is well-tolerated by all skin types, and enhances the texture and spreadability of formulations.

How It Works: As a humectant, glycerin forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules, trapping them in the skin. it also reinforces the skin barrier by integrating into lipid structures between skin cells.

Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,cleansers,toners,sheet masks,sunscreens,body lotions,shampoos,conditioners

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Humectant

Secondary Functions: Skin barrier support,emollient,solvent

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–30% (typical: 3–10%)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – plant-derived (coconut, soy, palm) or synthetic

Halal Status: Yes – when plant-derived or synthetic; verify source with supplier

Source Notes: Derived from plant oils via hydrolysis or saponification; synthetic versions also available. palm-derived glycerin carries sustainability concerns.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low; non-irritating at all standard concentrations

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Extremely rare allergic reactions; generally safe for all skin types including sensitive and baby skin

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Widely recognized as safe. ewg hazard score: 1. no significant concerns for irritation, sensitization, or toxicity at typical concentrations (up to 50%).

Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,niacinamide,panthenol,urea,peptides,retinol,ahas/bhas

Avoid Combining With: No known incompatibilities at standard concentrations

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Glycerin is an endogenous skin component found naturally in the stratum corneum. aquaporin-3 channels in keratinocytes facilitate glycerin transport, making it integral to natural skin hydration pathways.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ewg skin deep,inci decoder

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.

Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.

How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.

Typically Found In: Skin care formulations

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Methylchloroisothiazolinone has an established safety profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.

Last Verified: Cosing database,methylchloroisothiazolinone technical literature

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides highly potent broad-spectrum preservation at very low concentrations in rinse-off formulations.

Why It's Used: Most potent cosmetic preservative — mit provides effective preservation at concentrations 10-100× lower than most other preservatives, enabling clean-label preservation at minimal ingredient load.

How It Works: Electrophilic isothiazolinone ring reacts with bacterial thiol enzymes (glutathione, coa-dependent enzymes) via michael addition for rapid kill. very potent — mic vs e. coli 0.06μg/ml (vs phenoxyethanol mic ~400μg/ml — 6000× more potent). rapidly biodegradable.

Typically Found In: Rinse-off shampoos,body washes,conditioners

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – isothiazolinone preservative

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.0015%–0.0015% (max 15ppm eu rinse-off)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Eu regulation 2014/1298: mit banned from leave-on products. max 15ppm in rinse-off only. contact sensitiser — causes occupational dermatitis epidemic in hairdressers and consumers. sccs noted no safe level for leave-on. 2016 eu restriction driven by major sensitisation epidemic.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Mit's sensitisation epidemic (2010-2015) is one of the most significant cosmetic safety events in modern dermatology: a dramatic increase in contact allergy patch test positive rates from <1% (2005) to 7% (2015) in the eu was directly traceable to the widespread introduction of mit in leave-on products. this epidemic prompted the fastest eu cosmetic regulatory action in history and demonstrates the critical importance of patch test surveillance in monitoring emerging cosmetic allergens.

Last Verified: Cosing database,eu regulation 2014/1298,yazar et al. mit sensitisation epidemic study

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Nourishes and softens skin through its balanced fatty acid profile, while antioxidant compounds protect against oxidative skin damage.

Why It's Used: Plant oils provide physiologically compatible lipid structures that integrate into the skin barrier and deliver fat-soluble antioxidants directly to skin cells.

How It Works: Fatty acids integrate into stratum corneum lipid lamellae, reinforcing the lipid barrier. antioxidants (tocopherols, carotenoids, polyphenols) neutralize ros through electron donation or singlet oxygen quenching.

Typically Found In: Face oils,serums,moisturizers,hair treatments,body oils

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Plant oils

Secondary Functions: Emollient,antioxidant

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.5–30%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cold-pressed or solvent-extracted plant oil; no animal components.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1899-12-31 00:00:00 -0800

Comedogenicity Rating: 1900-01-01 00:00:00 -0800

Sensitivity Concerns: Low sensitization potential at recommended use concentrations.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Well-characterized cosmetic ingredient with established safety profile. generally non-irritating at typical use concentrations. suitable for leave-on and rinse-off cosmetics.

Works Well With: Vitamin e,ceramides,other plant oils,squalane

Avoid Combining With: Strong oxidizers (accelerate rancidity)

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Vegetable oils are triglyceride matrices where the fatty acid composition determines skin compatibility, barrier function, and comedogenicity. oleic acid-rich oils (>60%) soften barrier lipids and enhance penetration; linoleic acid-rich oils reinforce ceramide-poor stratum corneum; saturated fatty acid-rich oils provide occlusion without skin penetration.

Last Verified: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; aocs plant oil composition databases; fatty acid pharmacology reviews

Primary Sources: 2025-01-15

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides film-forming conditioning and detangling with heat protection in a polymer that adsorbs substantively to hair.

Why It's Used: The most widely used cationic polymer conditioner – provides excellent conditioning and detangling while adsorbing strongly to damaged hair areas that need conditioning most.

How It Works: Cationic quaternary ammonium groups along the polymer backbone adsorb to anionic sites on hair keratin. higher charge density on damaged hair (more negative sites) leads to preferential adsorption where conditioning is needed. polymer film formation provides heat protection and volume.

Typically Found In: Shampoos,2-in-1 products,conditioners,styling products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – cationic polymer conditioner

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–2%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – cellulose-derived

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Polyquaternium-10's 'self-targeting' to damaged hair sites is a unique smart conditioning mechanism. as hair damage increases negative charge density by exposing keratin's aspartate and glutamate carboxylate groups, pq-10's cationic polymer backbone adsorbs preferentially to these high-charge damage sites – automatically delivering more conditioning where the hair needs it most.

Last Verified: Cosing database,robbins hair science,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Deposits a conditioning film on hair and skin through electrostatic attraction to negative cuticle/corneocyte surfaces, reduces hair-on-hair friction for improved combability and detangling, eliminates static charge buildup, and provides anti-frizz humidity resistance.

Why It's Used: Cationic polymers are the primary hair conditioning technology — the permanent positive quaternary ammonium groups provide substantive deposition that resists rinsing, delivering persistent conditioning between washes unlike small-molecule cationic conditioners.

How It Works: At shampoo/conditioner ph 4.5–5.5, hair cuticle carries net negative charge (isoelectric point ph ~3.5). polyquaternium cations undergo electrostatic attraction depositing on the cuticle surface. during rinsing, the deposited polymer film persists from reduced surface-solution equilibrium at low bulk concentration — substantive deposition from favourable interfacial versus bulk partitioning.

Typically Found In: Shampoos,conditioners,leave-in products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–3%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Different polyquaternium numbers indicate different backbone chemistries: pq-7 (acrylamide/quaternary acrylate copolymer) for leave-on flexibility; pq-10 (hydroxyethylcellulose/quaternary ammonium) for substantive deposition; pq-11 (vp/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) for styling fixation.

Last Verified: Cosing database,polyquaternium-7 cationic conditioning deposition review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12