My Need to Talk About the Hidden Hormone Conversation in Your Shampoo Bottle

A Swedish brand called Under Your Skin is putting proof behind its “clean” claims with a verified hormone safety report that challenges industry norms.

Illustration by Justus Buenaflor

A couple of years ago, I became obsessed with what I was putting in and on my body. I overhauled my diet. I cut out alcohol. I switched all my cookware to ceramics and glassware. I practiced gratitude daily. I reduced how much product I apply to my face and body. I stopped wearing fragrances. The list goes on.

As a beauty editor during the great blurring of beauty and wellness, I tried hundreds of products while learning in real time about ingredient safety. As fun as it was participating in makeup trends (remember baking?) and nine-step skincare routines, I was surprised to learn how many popular beauty brands use formulas containing toxic ingredients and endocrine disruptors, which can become carcinogens.

I received an email a few weeks ago about Under Your Skin, a Swedish haircare brand that says its products won’t disrupt your hormones. Beauty brands make bold claims all the time (the industry is mostly marketing), but verifying them as a consumer is rarely straightforward. What caught my attention about Under Your Skin is that it removed the guesswork for consumers by partnering with the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) to verify its claims.