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I have been searching for years for a product that will completely fight off acne on my body. I tried body washes, bar soaps, sprays, and serums, many of which really worked…but only temporarily. After a few weeks of having a pimple-free butt, my painful pimples (literally) seem to *always* come back in full swing. It wasn’t until recently that I realized it might be time to stop treating the problem and figure out where it was coming from, and started reevaluating my long-awaited hair care routine.
And did you know? Certain ingredients commonly found in shampoos and conditioners can clog your pores and ultimately cause breakouts. Clearly something needed to change, so I swapped out my go-to whisk and conditioner for Clear Stem’s Luxury Hair Care Bundle ($94) and haven’t looked back since.
Clearstem, Luxury Hair Care Bundle — $94.00
Includes 1 bottle of Clearstem’s Restorative Shampoo, 1 bottle of Repair Conditioner, scalp scrubber, and nail clip.
Acne-friendly Safe for sensitive skin SLS-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free Does not dry out hair Spa-like scent Includes nail clip and scalp scrubber
Why is this shampoo gentle on acne?
Fun fact: Hair products don’t just come in contact with your scalp and hair. As you wash them off, they travel down your body, touching your back and butt along the way, the center of your body’s pimples. According to dermatologists, sulfates, which are often used as foaming agents to lather shampoos, form a film on the skin that traps dirt and bacteria that cause acne. Other common shampoo ingredients like silicones, thick oils (like mineral oil and lanolin), and fragrances can also cause breakouts, but sulfates like SLS and SLES are the biggest enemies. known.
Additionally, conditioners often contain high concentrations of butters and oils for their moisturizing properties, which, as you probably already know from your skin care routine, can lead to breakouts.
“We find that hair products clog pores and cause acne-like lesions,” says Dr. Ivy Lee, a board-certified dermatologist in Pasadena, California. She says conditioners containing certain oils “can have an even stronger comedogenic effect that clogs pores and causes acne-like lesions on the hairline, back of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.” I’m pointing it out. How many common culprits are there? coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil.
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About Clearstem Luxury Hair Care Bundles
Clear Stem hair care products are free of many pore-clogging substances, including sulfates, shea butter, isopropyl myristate, and coconut oil, as well as potential hormone disruptors, such as parabens and phthalates. yeah. But just as important as what’s not in the formula is what it does include: rich in ingredients that are good for your hair.
First up in the bundle is the brand’s Restorative Shampoo, which contains rosemary oil to stimulate growth, spearmint oil to soothe the scalp, and chamomile extract to reduce redness. Next, there’s the Repair Conditioner, which nourishes from kokum seed butter (which moisturises the hair) and almond seed cake, coating the hair shaft with a protective barrier of peptides to prevent breakage. Both of these ingredients are non-comedogenic, so they won’t clog your pores when you wash your back.
Like all of Clearstem’s products, the new hair care line sits at the unique intersection of “clean” and “clinical.” The brand was founded by Daniel Gronich, a certified clinical esthetician and founder of the San Diego Acne Clinic, and Kaylee Christina, a certified holistic nutritionist, who have incorporated their different perspectives on acne treatment into the brand’s ethos. The clinically tested natural ingredients that are the heroes of this formula are safe for sensitive skin and tested by dermatologists.
Photo: clear stem
The reason I love it
The fact that Clear Stem shampoo and conditioner are acne-friendly may have been what first inspired me to try them, but there are many other reasons I keep coming back.
Most sulfate-free shampoos provide pretty weak lather (if at all), so I always had a hard time believing they were actually cleaning my scalp. dirt and grime. Clear Stem’s shampoo produces the perfect amount of lather from a plant-based sulfate substitute, so we’re confident it’ll work.
Plus, the combination of spearmint and rosemary not only smells like an authentic spa experience, but the essential oil has a great cooling effect when applied to your scalp. The whole user experience is very luxurious and feels like it should be done in the hands of a salon professional rather than in your own shower. What makes it even more pro-grade? The included scalp scrubber massages your entire scalp whenever you need a deep clean.
I was initially worried that using acne-friendly products would make my perpetually dry hair even drier, but I was wrong. Whatever kokum seed butter and almond seed cake are doing to my hair, it’s just magic. The conditioner leaves my hair super soft and shiny and I can smell the subtle spearmint scent that energizes me all day long.
I also like that this product comes in a tub so I can control exactly how much I use at a time. I apply a small amount to my hair, work a dime-sized amount into my hair from the ends to the roots, and comb it out. Clip it all into the nail clips that come with the bundle, leave it on for 5 minutes while you do the rest of your body care routine, and wash it off.
This product has only recently been added to my routine, but considering how my hair looks, how great it feels, and the fact that the breakouts on my body are fading, I believe this product has arrived. It would be better. Stay.
These products are independently selected by our editors. When you buy through our links, Well+Good may earn a commission.
