amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil
by amika · skin_care
Editor's Take
A sulfate-free scalp detox that leans on charcoal and pink clay to pull oil and buildup, not strip it away with harsh surfactants.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Efficacy: 7.8 / 10
- Modern Tech: 7.0 / 10
- Clean Beauty: 7.0 / 10
- Sustainability: 8.2 / 10
The Verdict
The formula delivers what the bottle promises: a pre-shampoo treatment that uses mineral adsorption (charcoal, montmorillonite, kaolin) to lift scalp buildup without the aggression of traditional clarifying washes. The amino acid surfactant base (Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) keeps the cleanse gentle, while menthol adds the cooling sensory payoff scalp treatments are known for. The trade-off: synthetic fragrance and Phenoxyethanol preservation drop the clean score, and the glycol load (six different synthetic solvents) weighs on sustainability. Worth it for buildup-prone scalps that want detox without damage; skip it if you're chasing truly clean formulation or fragrance-free routines.
Full INCI list
Water/Eau/Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Propanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Tropaeolum Majus (Indian Cress/Capucine) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn/Argousier) Fruit/Seed Oil, Charcoal Powder, Montmorillonite (Pink Clay/Argile Rose), Illite, Kaolin, Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae/Algues Rouges) Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem/Margousier) Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem/Margousier) Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd/Courge Écarlate) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric/Safran des Indes) Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil/Basilic) Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil/Basilic Sacré) Leaf Extract, Menthol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycol Distearate, 1,2 Hexanediol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance/Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene