Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo
by Living Proof · hair_care
Editor's Take
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and a mineral-management polymer do the heavy lifting; the charcoal is mostly theater, but the clarifying system itself is genuinely modern.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Performance: 8.2 / 10
- Innovative Ingredients: 7.8 / 10
- Clean Standards: 5.9 / 10
- Formula Sustainability: 7.9 / 10
The Verdict
This is one of the more technically sophisticated clarifying shampoos on the market, anchored by sulfate-free surfactants that deliver deep cleansing without the harshness of older detergents. The inclusion of Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate for mineral management is a genuine innovation , most clarifying formulas just strip oil, this one addresses hard water buildup specifically. The charcoal adds visual drama but does little work; the real efficacy comes from the surfactant system and the polymer chelator. The trade-off is clean: multiple ethoxylated ingredients and undisclosed fragrance pull the Clean score to 5.9, while efficacy sits at a strong 8.2. Worth it if you live in hard water areas and want a clarifying wash that doesn't feel like stripping paint.
Full INCI list
Water/Eau/Aqua, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Stearate, Charcoal Powder, Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid,Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Trideceth-9, Ceteth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Fragrance/Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene