Formula · 7.1

Brand · 6.9

L’Oréal Paris · marula and camellia oils · France

L’Oréal Paris Elseve Extraordinary Oil

L’Oréal Paris Elseve Extraordinary Oil
7.1

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.5Actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “dry and damaged hair” — 100 %; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Tolerance0.7Debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): Coconut oil
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • dry skin
  • colour-treated hair
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.
When:
  • leave-on
on dry or damp ends, leave-in
When to expect an effect: shine, softness — immediately; no repair to expect; shine and softness — immediately, while the oil is on the hair; less breakage — after a few applications
What is normal: weigh fine hair down when overused; weighs fine hair down when overused; weighs fine hair down and looks greasy; on the face — comedones

Ingredients — 16 components · 3 work

What works: 3 of 16 ingredients: marula oil, camellia oil, coconut oil. Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.

Strengths: completeness for the purpose

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: anise alcohol, limonene, linalool, coumarin, hexyl cinnamal, fragrance — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

  • Isododecane base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Dimethicone base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Dimethiconol base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Cocos Nucifera Oil / Coconut Oil works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: oil
  • Tocopherol base: coating, fillers · vitamin E at hundredths of a percent: keeps the oils of the formula (a cream or a capsule fill) from going rancid; at that share it protects the product, it is not vitamin E as an active
  • Anise Alcohol questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: seed oil
  • Camellia Japonica Seed Oil works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: seed oil
  • Limonene questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Linalool questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Caprylic/Capric Glycerides base: coating, fillers · mono- and diglycerides of caprylic and capric acids (a coconut-oil fraction): a light emollient and co-emulsifier, a relative of caprylic/capric triglyceride
  • Gardenia Taitensis Flower base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Rosa Canina Flower Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Coumarin questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Hexyl Cinnamal questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Parfum / Fragrance questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

L’Oréal Paris Elseve Extraordinary Oil is a product whose active ingredient is marula oil + camellia oil + coconut oil. The concentration is not declared and the active sits after the 1 % line — more for the label than for the effect. There is little evidence of effect: marula oil, camellia oil. The effect is moderately supported: coconut oil. The formula has 16 ingredients, 3 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Anise Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum / Fragrance (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works). Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, dry skin, colour-treated hair. sensitive skin, atopic skin — ask a doctor. acne-prone face, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: on dry or damp ends, leave-in. When to expect an effect: shine, softness — immediately; no repair to expect. Label score — 7.1 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3; debatable ingredient groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): coconut oil).

Who it does not suit

  • acne-prone facecomedogenic
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: breakouts on the face or scalp — stop

Is this product right for your hair?

The score describes the formula, not your hair: a sulfate shampoo suits an oily scalp and fails a dry, sensitive one. Tell us about your hair, scalp and the problem — shedding, dandruff, oiliness, dryness — and we will build a routine and say whether this product suits you.

Hair care matchDecode my tests

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