Naturally Derived Ingredients, Explained Simply

Some ingredients in shampoo bars can sound intimidating because they use their scientific INCI names on the label. INCI names are the standardized ingredient names used in cosmetics, so the same ingredient can be identified no matter where it is sourced.

The good news? A long name does not automatically mean an ingredient is harsh or unsafe. Many naturally derived cosmetic ingredients have scientific names because they have been carefully processed to perform a specific job, like cleansing, creating lather, or conditioning the hair.

Here are three of the key ingredients you may see in our shampoo bars, explained in simple terms.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Also known as: SCI
What it does: Gentle cleansing
Where it comes from: Commonly derived from coconut fatty acids

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is one of the main cleansing ingredients in our shampoo bars. Its job is to help lift away dirt, oil, sweat, and product buildup from the scalp and hair.

Even though the name sounds very scientific, SCI is often chosen for solid shampoo bars because it creates a soft, creamy lather and gives a gentle cleansing feel. It helps the bar wash like a shampoo, not like traditional soap.

In plain English:
SCI is the ingredient that helps your shampoo bar cleanse your hair and create that creamy, bubbly foam.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Also known as: CAPB
What it does: Boosts lather and supports a gentle cleanse
Where it comes from: Commonly derived from coconut

Cocamidopropyl Betaine works alongside the main cleanser to make the lather feel fuller and creamier. It helps the shampoo bar spread more easily through wet hair and can make the overall cleansing experience feel gentler.

This ingredient is often used as a supporting cleanser. Think of it as the helper ingredient that improves the feel of the wash.

In plain English:
CAPB helps give the bar better bubbles, a smoother feel, and a gentler wash.

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Also known as: BTMS
What it does: Conditions, softens, and helps detangle
Where it comes from: Naturally derived plant-based fatty acids

Behentrimonium Methosulfate may be the most confusing name on the label because it includes the word “methosulfate.” Despite how it sounds, this ingredient is not a harsh sulfate cleanser.

BTMS is a conditioning ingredient. It helps hair feel softer, smoother, and easier to comb. It is especially helpful in conditioner bars and 2-in-1 shampoo bars because it adds slip and helps reduce that tangled, rough feeling after washing.

You may also see it paired with fatty alcohols, such as cetearyl alcohol. These are not the same as drying alcohols. Fatty alcohols are waxy, conditioning ingredients that help give bars firmness, glide, and a creamy feel.

In plain English:
BTMS is the ingredient that helps your hair feel soft, smooth, and easier to detangle.

How these ingredients work together

Each ingredient has a different job:

SCI cleanses.
It helps wash away oil, dirt, and buildup.

CAPB boosts the lather.
It helps create a richer foam and a gentler feel.

BTMS conditions.
It helps soften the hair and improve manageability.

Together, these ingredients help create a solid haircare bar that cleanses, lathers, and leaves hair feeling soft without relying on traditional liquid shampoo packaging.