Clean beauty is growing in popularity and many beauty enthusiasts aren’t just looking for products that work – they also have to be gentle on the skin and kind to the environment.
While many skincare brands have hopped on the clean beauty bandwagon, we don’t see the same phenomenon in the haircare arena yet.
Source: Freepik
Enter Organist, the eco-friendly Korean haircare established in 2013.
Having found success in its homeland and subsequently in Singapore where it made a limited-time-only appearance back in 2018, Organist has now returned to our shores by popular demand to offer its reformulated range of natural haircare products which comes with added benefits too!
Most importantly, Organist is already about clean beauty before clean beauty was a thing – clean beauty cosying up with K-beauty, we can’t think of a better coupling in the beauty world!
The beauty behind Organist, the clean K-beauty haircare brand that’s back in Singapore by popular demand
By now, you would’ve heard of the term ‘clean beauty’ being thrown at you from all directions – it’s been a trendy buzzword in the last few years but what does it really mean?
Defined by products that are mindfully created without any proven or suspected toxic substances, clean beauty keeps the health of our bodies and the environment in mind, advocating products that use ethically sourced ingredients in place of harmful ones.
The bottom line? Clean beauty champions cosmetic and personal care products that are safe for both people and the planet. And this is where Organist comes in with its 10-free product formulation and plant-based cleansing ingredients that are used in all its shampoos and conditioners.
The cleansing agent in all Organist shampoos is derived from olive oil, which produces a naturally rich yet gentle foam. On top of that, all Organist shampoos and conditioners are prepared with the brand’s key component that’s known as Eco Botanic Essence – it’s made using botanical ingredients like babassu seed oil, chamomile, and lemon balm that are cultivated without pesticides to balance the natural oil-moisture level in your hair and scalp.
Additionally, all of Organist’s formulas are formulated without 10 chemical ingredients, including petroleum-based surfactants, silicone, triclosan, parabens, and animal-derived elements. It’s also worth noting that Organist develops its shampoos and conditioners with low pH that’s similar to the acidity level of healthy hair and scalp.
Organist goes one step further with its formulation by powering its products with interesting yet nutritional ingredients – think hyaluronic acid, biotin, micellar, and ceramide to care for your hair and scalp.
Forgoing more conventional ingredients makes Organist stand out above the rest, but in a good way as more people are starting to look for these intriguing ingredients not just in their skincare but also hair products as well.
Naturally, that caught the attention of the Daily Vanity team and we couldn’t resist taking the products for a spin. Read on for our review of all six of Organist’s hair care series!
Good-for-skin ingredients that are great for hair as well
Hyaluronic acid: Ultra-hydrating for dry, rough hair
It’s no secret by now that hyaluronic acid is the moisture powerhouse for your skin. A sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin, hyaluronic acid helps to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin so that skin can appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated.
This ability to lock in moisture makes hyaluronic acid especially beneficial to dry locks that are rough to the touch, which is why it’s found in the Organist Cherry Blossom Shampoo and Conditioner. Marrying moisture-rich cherry blossom flower extract and hyaluronic acid, this range helps deliver the ultimate dose of moisture and shine to parched hair.
Online, many love the Organist Cherry Blossom range for its sweet scent with one happy user named Michelle writing, “The scent of the shampoo is to die for if you adore sweet and floral scents. I want all my toiletries to smell of cherry blossoms!”
DV’s review: “I was initially concerned about a potentially cloying floral perfume but all my worries were cast aside after I tried the shampoo and conditioner – the cherry blossom aroma isn’t overpowering at all! The range leaves my tresses so moisturised and nicely scented, I just want to smell my hair all day long!” – Lynnett
Biotin: Hair growth booster for limp hair
First, a little biology lesson on biotin: your body needs it to help convert certain nutrients into energy and it also plays an important role in hair, skin, and nail health. This is because keratin is the basic protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails, and having a sufficient amount of biotin in your system helps improve your body’s keratin infrastructure. With hair, it’s said to help boost hair growth and fortify hair roots.
The Organist Avocado & Quinoa Shampoo and Conditioner use a combination of vitamin-rich avocado oil, protein-rich quinoa, and biotin to deliver much-needed nourishment and volume to thin, lifeless locks.
DV’s review: “I’ve been struggling with flat, thinning hair after my pregnancy, and have tried countless hair solutions to address this issue. I have since found my holy grail anti-hair loss shampoo, but what I did not expect was for this Organist duo to also help me control my hair fall!
Not only do I love how it cleanses my scalp and hair without any drying after-feel, it also gives my hair a lot more body than before and keeps it from falling flat even on day two. There’s a high chance I’ll repurchase this range and alternate with my own anti-hair loss shampoo.” – Peony
Ceramide: Ultimate nourishment for damaged hair
One of the anti-ageing powerhouses responsible for supporting skin’s dynamic nature, ceramides are lipids (fats) that make up over 50% of skin’s composition and are found naturally in high concentrations in the skin’s uppermost layers. This fact alone should give you an inkling on the vital role ceramides play in determining how your skin looks (and how it responds to environmental threats).
With regards to hair, ceramides lock in nutrients and keep the hair cuticle flat, helping to smooth hair, enhance shine and allow hair to endure wear and tear over time. They can help promote elasticity and moisture retention, and aid in strengthening hair shaft, which make ceramides most beneficial to chemically treated hair (colouring, bleaching, perming, and rebonding).
This intensely nourishing ingredient can be found in the Organist Moroccan Argan & Repair Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, which is the namesake liquid gold of Morocco plus ceramide to protect hair and scalp while imparting softness and glossiness to damaged hair.
It is well-loved by many Koreans, with a lot of them reporting that the Moroccan Argan & Repair Oil Shampoo does not make their hair and scalp feel sticky or overly oily. One user said it’s made her hair feel soft after each wash and helped her permed curls look even bouncier.
DV’s review: “You know how there are loads of hair-moisturising products out there that leave a film on your mane in order to keep the moisture in? Yeah, I hate those because they generally weigh my hair down so badly. But there was none of them with this Organist series even though it’s infused with argan oil, which is famous for being ultra-moisturising.
My hair doesn’t feel dry or stiff at all, even though it was heavily processed chemically before (bleaching and colouring). In fact, I was surprised by how my hair felt like it’s already been conditioned right after I rinsed off just the shampoo! I also noticed that my hair doesn’t tangle as much now after blow-drying.” – Melissa
Panthenol: Re-balancing, anti-dandruff care
Thanks to its soothing and repairing properties, panthenol offers a calming respite to inflamed acne-prone skin as well as skin that has recently undergone clinical treatment (like chemical peeling). Even those with eczema or sunburned skin will benefit from products containing panthenol as the ingredient helps accelerate skin’s healing process.
For the hair, panthenol is a humectant, moisturiser, and emollient all rolled into one. It possesses the ability to remove dandruff from the hair and scalp while spreading evenly on the surface of hair strands, forming a smooth film on the surface of the cuticle to reflect light for significant gloss and shine.
The Organist Peppermint & Ginger Shampoo pairs panthenol with fresh peppermint and ginger extract to offer refreshing, cooling, and moisturising care for dandruff-ridden hair, as it effectively gets rid of dandruff, re-balances sebum production, and restores scalp health.
DV’s review: “Having to deal with oily scalp and dandruff on a daily basis, I really love how clean and refreshing the shampoo makes my scalp feel. After trying the formula, I feel that my scalp is also getting less oily now, potentially because of the organic Eco Botanic Essence which supposedly helps with sebum balance. Extra bonus points for the shampoo’s slightly minty aroma, which is pleasant and not overpowering at all.” – Wan Kee
Micellar: Deep, thorough cleansing for oily hair
You’re probably no stranger to micellar water, the water-like substance that’s loaded with small cleansing molecules called micelles. Courtesy of their hydrophilic (water-soluble) and hydrophobic (water-insoluble) characteristics, micelles pretty much work like magnets, in that they attract and trap the dirt and excess oils on your skin.
Apart from gently and effectively removing makeup, clearing out pores and toning skin, the multi-purpose ingredient can also benefit hair by way of deep cleansing and restoring balance, leading to extra shine, body, and bounce. When formulated in hair care products, micellar water can help tackle buildup of dead skin cells and sebum in the scalp without stripping the skin.
Micellar water joins forces with rosemary extract and mineral sea salt in the Organist Rosemary & Sea Salt Shampoo. This deep-cleansing concoction offers exfoliating and purifying benefits to oily scalp while regulating sebum production.
DV’s review: “I appreciate how this gets the job done without making my hair feel dry to the touch at all, even though it’s meant as a shampoo for oily hair. I like how it foams up so easily, it requires little to no effort to lather up the formula – I even caught a slight cooling sensation as I was lathering up! Those dealing with oily hair will definitely love this because it gets rid of the daily grime and pollutants well without taking away the moisture in your scalp.” – Lynnett
Himalayan pink salt: Purifying, pH-optimising care
Last but certainly not least, the Himalayan pink salt is known to be a natural antiseptic ingredient that’s good for disinfecting acne-prone skin as it can take down acne-causing bacteria and help to reduce breakouts and blackheads. It’s been said that the minerals in the coloured salt can also help maintain the skin’s natural barrier, which functions to support skin hydration and keep out irritants.
Courtesy of its deep-cleansing and antibacterial properties, Himalayan pink salt also greatly benefits hair as it’s capable of absorbing all the dirt and toxins and regulating excess sebum production in your scalp.
The Organist Himalayan Pink Salt Scalp Shampoo features the mineral-rich ingredient together with soapwort extract to deliver the necessary minerals and nutrients that the hair needs while minimising excess sebum and re-balancing moisture in the scalp and hair for healthier-looking locks.
DV’s review: “Its pleasant scent instantly soothes my senses the moment I lather the Himalayan Pink Salt Scalp Shampoo, which foams up really nicely by the way! I like that I don’t need a lot of product for my chest-length hair – just one full pump will suffice for my entire scalp and hair. It also gives a slight cooling sensation as you lather the shampoo on your scalp, which I find it to be a nice surprise especially a long humid day. Overall, it’s a good “basic” shampoo for normal, unprocessed hair that has to occasionally deal with mild oiliness or flakiness.” – Lynnett
If you’re looking for affordable hair care products that deliver effective results, the new and improved Organist range may just be your go-to once you’ve tried it. Utilising hair-loving ingredients that are often overlooked, the shampoos and conditioners are also formulated with Mother Nature in mind, proving that beautiful hair doesn’t have to come at the expense of our fragile environment.
The Organist shampoo and conditioner range retails for S$12.60 each at Giant as well as online at Lazada and The Face Shop’s website.
This article is brought to you by Organist.
