Hello from Creo Care to all of YOU!  We have put together a few terms & descriptions for you to read and learn about.  Written by Creo's Resident "Crazy Chemist", these terms describe the benefits of certain ingredients found in Creo Care and descriptions of dangerous ingredients you will not find in your Creo Care bottles!  So read up, folks; here's some interesting stuff!

Sulfates: including sodium lauryl, ammonium laurel and sodium laureth sulfate...:  These are a class of surfactants (detergents) used in shampoos, bubble baths, shaving cream, toothpaste etc…  They are easy to formulate with as they thicken easily and produce lots of foam.  The downsides are the health concerns.  They can cause skin and eye irritation.  The ability to strip oils and to denature (unravel, destroy) proteins can lead to scalp itch and dry, flaky skin.  Creo chooses not to formulate with sulfates in order to produce products that are hair and skin friendly.  The strong anionic nature leads to the loss of hair mass (due to protein denaturing) which also causes the loss of hair color in chemically treated hair.   Sulfates are used in protein chemistry to separate proteins (I have used them in this capacity) which leads me to the question why would would I wash my protein i.e. hair and skin with such a compound?  There are many other choices which may not be as cost effective a cleanser but whose performance is just as good and much safer and healthier.

Ethanolamines: these include diethanolamine (DEA), monoethanolamine (MEA) and triethanolamine (TEA).  These are used in personal care formulations as foam boosters and conditioning agents.  They are also used agrochemicals, cement additives, metal and oil processing und used in the production of polyurethanes, biocides and electronics. These compounds provide a creamy feel and texture and provide added foam height and foam stability.  The downside to these foam boosters is their ability to form nitrosamines that are carcinogenic.  They are used in inexpensive formulations to add detergency and conditioning and also in more expensive formulas.  Sulfate free products often do not foam enough so a foam booster is added which is potentially more harmful (less kind to the skin and hair) than the sulfates themselves.  Creo's shampoos neither need nor use any of these foam boosters in their formulas.

Omega 3 and 6 Oils: Creo uses these oils as the base for their conditioner emulsions, NOT SILICONES.  We are the only line that uses these oils as the conditioner base.  Silicones have no therapeutic value.  They are skin clogging waterproofing agents that attract dirt.  Think Armour All, double and triple unsaturated oils are the omega 3 and 6 oils, also called the fish oils and essential fatty acids.  These oils are also referred to as linoleic and linolenic oils. The unsaturations allow the oils to be broken down into 6 and 9 carbon chains. These oils are the building blocks for many important biological processes, e.g. production of proteins.  Our bodies cannot produce these oils so it is necessary to get them from an outside source, i.e. diet.   These oils are relatively small compounds, with a water and oil liking component.  They are readily absorbed by skin and tissue.  They are used as carrier oils in massage.  Examples of omega 3 and 6 oils are borage seed (highest levels of omega 6), rosehip seed, grapeseed (highest levels of omega 6), apricot kernel, kukui nut etc….  Some oils, such as kukui nut, contain both essential fatty acids.  These oils, when applied topically, restore elasticity to the skin, smoothes and softens both hair and skin, help deliver antioxidants, reduces redness, have anti irritant properties, restores shine and texture to the hair and skin.  Essential fatty acids help promote healthy skin and hair production as well as regulate the amount of sebum (oil) the skin and scalp produce.  I.e.: helps dry skin become less dry and oily skin less oily.

Protein:  Creo Care adds protein and amino acids to their formulations.  The sulfide bonds in the keratin hold the protein together. When these are oxidized (from chemical treatments, sulfated shampoos, blow drying, sun, chlorine etc….)  split ends, broken hair, frizz and dullness results.  By adding a high quality amino acid or protein that contains high levels of sulfur containing amino acids (cystein, histidine) these bonds are repaired resulting in healthier, stronger hair with more shine and no split ends.  It is remarkable when looking at hair studies just how much benefit can be achieved using good proteins in the right amounts.