Wow Skin Science Hair Conditioner (Organic Virgin Coconut Oil +Avocado Oil)

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Conditions and nourishes skin and hair with exceptional fatty acid, squalene, and tocopherol content.

Why It's Used: Premium multi-nutrient facial and hair oil – its unique phytosterol and squalene composition provides anti-aging benefits beyond simple emolliency.

How It Works: Balanced oleic/linoleic acid ratio provides both emolliency and barrier repair. high squalene content (6-7%) provides antioxidant and sebum-compatible emolliency. tocopherols provide antioxidant stability and skin benefit. phytosterols inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and reduce inflammation.

Typically Found In: Premium facial oils,hair oils,anti-aging products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Squalene content,phytosterol activity,anti-aging

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–100%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from argania spinosa kernels

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cold-pressed from roasted (food) or unroasted (cosmetic) argan kernels. unesco world heritage traditional production. fair trade certified sources available.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

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

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Argan oil's squalene content (6-7%) is among the highest of all plant oils, second only to olive oil. squalene is an endogenous skin lipid that declines with age, making argan oil's high squalene level particularly relevant for anti-aging facial use – replenishing both essential fatty acids and age-depleting skin lipids simultaneously.

Last Verified: Cosing database,boucetta et al. argan oil review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides deep moisturization with rich oleic acid, phytosterols, and lutein antioxidants for mature, dry skin.

Why It's Used: Rich, deeply penetrating oil for dry and mature skin requiring intensive emolliency beyond lightweight oils.

How It Works: Very high oleic acid (55-74%) penetrates deeply into stratum corneum for conditioning. beta-sitosterol and other phytosterols provide barrier repair and mild anti-inflammatory activity. lutein provides antioxidant protection. high unsaponifiable fraction (2-11%) provides unique skin bioactives.

Typically Found In: Rich moisturizers,dry skin oils,anti-aging formulas,body butters

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Deep penetrating emollient,phytosterol activity,anti-aging

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–50%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from persea gratissima fruits

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cold-pressed from avocado fruit flesh. high unsaponifiable fraction (unsaponified lipids) makes avocado oil uniquely bioactive vs other oils with low unsaponifiable content.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 3/5 – moderate; high oleic acid; test for skin type

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

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

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Avocado oil's unusually high unsaponifiable fraction (2-11% vs <2% for most plant oils) contains phytosterols, terpenes, vitamin e, and chlorophyll that remain after saponification and provide skin-active benefits not present in most other plant oils. this unsaponifiable fraction is what makes avocado oil pharmacologically distinct from simple fatty acid triglyceride oils.

Last Verified: Cosing database,dreher & davenport avocado review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Softens and conditions skin by integrating into sc lipid bilayers, delivers essential fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) for barrier lipid synthesis, and provides rich, non-stripping moisturisation.

Why It's Used: Natural carrier oils provide the closest compositional match to endogenous sc lipids, delivering emolliency through genuine barrier integration rather than simple surface occlusion.

How It Works: Fatty acid triglycerides partition into sc lipid bilayers — oleic acid (c18:1) provides fluid, emollient integration; linoleic acid (c18:2) acts as essential ceramide precursor; saturated fatty acids provide more occlusive barrier reinforcement.

Typically Found In: Moisturisers,facial oils,natural skin care

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–100%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

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

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Essential fatty acids — linoleic (c18:2, n-6) and α-linolenic (c18:3, n-3) acids — cannot be synthesised by the body; topical delivery through carrier oils provides direct substrate for ceramide and eicosanoid biosynthesis in the epidermis.

Last Verified: Cosing database,castor oil carrier oil botanical review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides sebum-identical emolliency with outstanding oxidative stability and non-comedogenic profile.

Why It's Used: The most sebum-compatible plant oil – its wax ester composition mimics human sebum for superior skin compatibility across all skin types including oily and acne-prone.

How It Works: Liquid wax ester composition (primarily c20:1 and c22:1 wax esters) provides exceptional molecular mimicry of human sebum wax esters. regulates sebum production via negative feedback to sebaceous glands. remarkable oxidative stability from fully unsaturated wax ester structure vs polyunsaturated triglycerides.

Typically Found In: Facial oils,hair oils,serums,body care,lip care,virtually all product categories

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Sebum balancing,oxidative stability,non-comedogenic

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–100%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seeds

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cold-pressed from jojoba seeds. among the most oxidation-stable plant oils (shelf life 5+ years). desert-grown, drought-resistant crop.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic; sebum-identical composition

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

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

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Jojoba oil's wax ester composition is uniquely different from all other plant oils (which are triglycerides). human sebum contains approximately 25% wax esters – the proportion matched by jojoba. this structural identity explains jojoba's superior skin and hair compatibility versus conventional triglyceride oils.

Last Verified: Cosing database,gad et al. jojoba review,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides gentle, well-tolerated emolliency for all skin types including sensitive and baby skin.

Why It's Used: The most universally tolerated plant oil – gentle, light, and well-tolerated across all age groups and skin types.

How It Works: Balanced oleic (62-73%) and linoleic (20-30%) fatty acid composition provides dual emolliency and barrier repair. light texture (lower viscosity vs avocado/olive) provides better aesthetic for face and body. vitamin e provides antioxidant protection.

Typically Found In: Baby products,sensitive skin formulas,body oils,massage oils,facial oils

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Universal tolerability,gentle emolliency

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–100%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from prunus amygdalus dulcis seeds

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cold-pressed from sweet almond kernels. non-roasted (cosmetic grade) has lighter color and odor than food-grade roasted. shelf life 12-18 months.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 2/5 – low to moderate

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

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

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Sweet almond oil's balanced oleic/linoleic ratio (approximately 3:1) provides both the emollient (oleic-driven skin softening) and barrier repair (linoleic-driven ceramide synthesis support) properties from a single oil, making it a particularly complete standalone facial and body moisturizing oil.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Strengthens hair and improves elasticity with glutamine-rich wheat protein peptides.

Why It's Used: Leading plant-based protein conditioner providing excellent hair strengthening and elasticity improvement from wheat gluten hydrolysate.

How It Works: High glutamine content (35-40% of amino acids) provides strong hydrogen bonding to hair proteins. glutamine-proline sequences form stable polyproline ii helices that strengthen hair protein tertiary structure. film formation on hair surface provides combing ease and volume.

Typically Found In: Strengthening shampoos,protein treatments,volume conditioners

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – plant protein conditioner

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%–10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from triticum vulgare (wheat) germ

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: Gluten sensitivity: hydrolyzed wheat protein may cause reactions in celiac disease individuals if applied to broken skin. generally safe for topical use on intact skin.

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

Wheat protein's high glutamine content provides hydrogen bonding affinity for hair cuticle and cortex proteins that is quantitatively superior to most other plant proteins. glutamine's amide side chain (-conh2) forms stronger hydrogen bonds with keratin than the hydroxyl-based bonds of serine or threonine-rich proteins like silk.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12