Let’s Talk About These Ingredients (Without Losing Our Minds)
If you flip over a shampoo bar and feel like you’re reading a science textbook written by a villain… breathe.
Big words don’t equal poison.
And “natural” doesn’t automatically mean safe.
I’m not here to fearmonger.
I’m here to decode.
So let’s break this down like grown adults who care about what we put on our bodies.
The Cleansing Stuff (The Bubble Makers)
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Coconut-derived cleanser. It’s what gives that creamy, rich lather without stripping your scalp like cheap detergent.
Not scary.
Not harsh.
Actually pretty gentle.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Another coconut-based surfactant that boosts bubbles and reduces irritation.
Now here’s the truth: if it’s poorly manufactured, it can contain impurities that irritate sensitive skin. That’s not the ingredient’s fault. That’s a quality control issue.
When sourced responsibly? Totally fine.
The Moisture & Slip Squad
Sodium Lactate
Helps draw moisture in and makes bars harder and longer-lasting.
No drama here.
Cetyl Alcohol
Not the drying, frat-boy alcohol. This is a fatty alcohol. It softens. It thickens. It conditions.
Different family. Different behavior.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Deep breath. The word “sulfate” is misleading here.
This is NOT the harsh sulfate you’re thinking of. It’s a conditioning agent that detangles and smooths hair.
And yes, it’s considered safe.
Cetearyl Alcohol & Polysorbate 60
More fatty alcohol goodness and an emulsifier that keeps oil and water from separating.
Functional. Stable. Boring in the best way.
The Good Stuff (The Hair-Loving Ingredients)
Mango Seed Butter
Moisturizing. Rich. Lovely.
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Derivatives
Plant-based emollients that mimic your skin’s natural lipids.
They help with softness and barrier support.
Panthenol
Pro-Vitamin B5. Strengthens hair. Adds shine. Improves moisture retention.
Actually useful. Not just label filler.
Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein
Tiny plant proteins that coat and reinforce hair strands.
Good for strength. Good for body.
The “Controversial” One
Dimethicone
Ah yes. The silicone debate.
Here’s the real story:
Dimethicone smooths hair and reduces frizz. It is non-toxic and non-irritating. The issue isn’t safety — it’s buildup preference. Some people don’t like how silicones feel over time.
That’s a personal choice, not a hazard classification.
Stearic Acid
Fatty acid used for structure and stability.
Calm down. It’s fine.
Now Let’s Talk About the One That Actually Matters
Fragrance
This is where I stop being chill.
“Fragrance” is a legal loophole word. It can represent dozens — sometimes hundreds — of aroma compounds.
Some fragrance oils are clean, transparent, IFRA-compliant, phthalate-free, and screened for CMR materials.
Some are absolutely not.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth:
A lot of makers either:
Don’t know how to read an SDS.
Don’t understand IFRA usage rates.
Or don’t look too closely because ignorance protects their profit margin.
That’s not dramatic. That’s reality.
The ingredient list you sent does not automatically scream “toxic.”
In fact, from a cosmetic chemistry standpoint, it’s pretty standard and generally regarded as safe when properly formulated.
No parabens.
No formaldehyde donors.
No obvious endocrine disruptors listed.
The formula itself? Fine.
The fragrance sourcing? That’s the real question.
Here’s What Actually Bothers Me
Not long words.
Not fatty alcohols.
Not lab-made ingredients.
What bothers me is blind trust.
Customers who don’t ask.
Makers who don’t vet suppliers.
Suppliers who hide behind trade secret protections.
You deserve better than “just trust me.”
And This Is Why We Formulate the Way We Do
At Mad House Goat Soapery, we don’t choose ingredients because they sound trendy.
We choose them because:
They perform.
They’re appropriate for the product.
And we’ve actually vetted them.
If we use a synthetic ingredient, it’s intentional.
If we use a fragrance, it’s screened.
If something doesn’t meet our standards, it doesn’t go in — even if it would be cheaper or easier.
Because “good enough” isn’t good enough when it’s going on your skin. Or your kid’s. Or mine.
You don’t need to fear every ingredient with more than three syllables.
But you should expect transparency.
Always.
And if a maker can’t confidently explain what’s in their product and why it’s there?
That’s your red flag.
Around here, we don’t hide behind marketing words.
We formulate with purpose.
