Smartly choosing active ingredients in shampoos and soaps in 2025: The key to better skin and hair care

active ingredients for personal care product

• Good active ingredients for shampoo

  1. Biotin

     Biotin is commonly referred to as vitamin B7 and is known to have abundant benefits for hair growth by strengthening hair follicles to support their growth cycle regularly while also addressing split ends and dry or brittle hair. In addition to external treatments, biotin can also be obtained by consuming foods such as egg yolks, sea fish like tuna and salmon, vegetables, dairy products, and others. The duration needed to consume biotin is around 6-12 months for optimal results.

  2. Peptide

     Working on the deepest layers of the hair to renew, improve circulation on the scalp, and ensure that hair follicles receive optimal nutrition. Maintaining the natural color of hair and restoring hair loss by helping to block dihydrotestosterone, which is the cause of thinning hair, is also one of the peptides' expertise.

  3. Hyaluronic Acid

     Hyaluronic Acid is one of the ingredients that can help restore the moisture lost during the hair coloring process or reduce frizz by sealing the cuticle on the hair shaft to add volume to the hair roots and makes hair look shiny.

  4. Plant-Based Protein

     Adding plant-based protein to hair care is the right choice to refresh and rejuvenate hair by increasing its elasticity, making it less prone to breakage or damage. Over time, this will result in softer and more manageable hair. There are also several sources of plant-based protein in the form of foods such as wheat, rice, flaxseed, and legumes, which are also important for repairing damaged hair tissue.
     
     

• Good active ingredients for soap

  1. Glycerin

     This glycerin helps ensure moisture on the skin to protect against damage caused by dryness. In addition, it also has functions to accelerate wound healing, protect against irritation, and act as an antibacterial. Glycerin can be used for all skin types, including sensitive skin, because it contains natural compounds derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that are colorless and odorless, resulting in a low irritation level.

  2. Aloe Vera

     Preventing skin inflammation caused by sun exposure or germs and rich in antioxidants that can cleanse dirt, sebum, and pollution particles after a day of outdoor activities is one of aloe vera's specialties. With its antimicrobial properties, aloe vera also helps protect the skin from bacteria and pathogens that cause skin infections.

  3. Coconut oil

     This pure coconut oil is very suitable as a raw material for soap making because it has a high lauric acid content that smooths and moisturizes the skin as well as removes dead skin cells and dirt.

  4. Shea Butter

     Shea Butter, derived from the fruit of the shea tree, also known as "vitellaria," is very safe for all skin types, including baby skin, as it functions as an emollient that softens and hydrates the skin. It contains several types of fatty acids that naturally protect the skin from damage caused by pollution.

  5. Jojoba Oil

     Having properties similar to the natural oil produced by the skin, commonly known as sebum, it can help maintain skin moisture without clogging pores, making it ideal for dry or sensitive skin by forming a non-greasy protective layer to keep the skin hydrated.

Active ingredients that should be avoided in shampoos and soaps

• SLS

  This active ingredient is often found in shampoos and soaps due to its effectiveness in producing foam and cleaning dirt. However, even though it is widely used by some people, it is best to avoid it because it can damage the outermost layer of the skin or cause irritation such as redness, dryness, itching, and peeling for the skin, and it can damage the hair due to disrupted sebum production, making the hair rough and easily brittle.

• Paraben

  Parabens, which are commonly known and used as preservatives in personal care products (such as soap and shampoo), pose long-term health risks, particularly in terms of hormonal disruptions (imbalanced hormones) such as reproductive disorders and breast cancer, damaging skin structure, worsening signs of premature aging like wrinkles and fine lines, and causing skin irritation.

• Mineral Oil

  Its cheap and easily obtainable nature makes this active ingredient widely used in several personal care products like shampoos and soaps. However, this mineral oil turns out to be difficult to absorb into the skin or hair layers, causing clogged pores and resulting in issues like dandruff, oily scalp, and acne.

• Synthetic Fragrance

  The use of synthetic fragrances contains harmful chemicals that, if used in the long term, can disrupt the body's natural hormones and trigger reactions such as headaches or respiratory issues for some people with poor health conditions.

active ingredients for shampoo

active ingredients for soap

active ingredients for shampoo

active ingredients for soap

damaged hair

dry skin

Some hazardous chemicals are often used in shampoo or soap products because they are functional and cheap, but they each have potential risks for skin health. Therefore, it is important for us to raise awareness about the importance of choosing good products for long-term skin health. Active ingredients such as biotin, peptides, hyaluronic acid, plant proteins and others (for shampoo), and glycerin, aloe vera, coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil (for soap) should be prioritized in 2025. Because by prioritizing natural ingredients and avoiding harmful chemicals, we can ensure maximum benefits for our hair, skin, and overall health.

As the years go by, more and more people are becoming aware of the health of their hair and skin because they want to avoid and address various hair and body issues in general to look more perfect and confident. There are many active ingredients that you need to consider to maintain the health of your hair and skin in 2025. Here are some active ingredients that are good and trusted by many people for their health