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What each ingredient in our products does, and why it is in the formula.
The medium the other ingredients dissolve in, and usually the largest share of the formula.
Purified water.
The medium the other ingredients dissolve in, and usually the largest share of liquid and cream products.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate ShampooShea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerSkin Moisturizing Lotion
Ingredients that lift oil and dirt. They vary in strength and in how gentle they are on hair and skin.
A cleanser from the sulfosuccinate family, not a sulphate.
Cleans with less lather and a gentler touch, and is used in place of sodium lauryl sulphate in sulphate-free formulas.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate Shampoo
A helper ingredient that makes the lather thicker and longer-lasting.
Improves how the product feels in use. A richer lather is not a direct measure of stronger cleansing.
The trade name commonly used in Egypt for a family of cleansers, most often sodium laureth sulphate.
Cleans and builds a rich lather. It suits body washes, which need more cleansing power than scalp products.
Found in:Mapella Shower Gel
Ingredients added for a specific effect on how skin looks, such as a more even tone or more radiance. Results come with regular use.
A molecule chemically related to hydroquinone but far milder, and used safely in cosmetics.
Slows the enzyme that makes melanin, so it gradually fades the look of dark spots. It pairs well with niacinamide, and needs daily sunscreen alongside it or the spots come back.
Found in:Hyaluronic SerumNiacinamide Serum
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a stable, water-soluble form of vitamin C.
An antioxidant that helps skin look brighter and more even. It is gentler and slower-acting than pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and far less likely to oxidise in the bottle.
Found in:Vitamin C 10% Serum
A form of vitamin B3, stable and gentle on most skin types.
Helps even out skin tone, reduce the look of pores and shine, and support the skin's natural barrier. Results build gradually over several weeks of regular use.
Found in:Niacinamide Serum
An extract from the root of the liquorice plant.
Helps calm the skin and even out the look of its tone, supporting the protective ingredients in the formula.
Found in:Sun Block
Mineral filters that reflect and scatter UV rays. They are where a sunscreen's protection actually comes from.
A mineral UV filter.
Reflects, scatters and absorbs UV rays across both UVB and UVA. It is gentle on sensitive and children's skin, and can leave a slight white cast.
Found in:Sun Block
A mineral UV filter.
Protects mainly against UVB, the rays behind sunburn, and complements zinc oxide against UVA.
Found in:Sun Block
Some ingredients draw water into the skin and others slow its loss; formulas usually combine the two.
An extract from the leaf of the aloe plant.
Helps hydrate and soothe, and feels cooling on irritated skin. It is usually a supporting ingredient in the formula.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate ShampooShea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerMixed Skin Foam Cleanser with BrushMapella Shower Gel
Provitamin B5, which the body converts into vitamin B5.
Helps hydrate and soothe skin after cleansing, and makes hair more flexible so it breaks less when combed.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate ShampooSkin Moisturizing LotionMixed Skin Foam Cleanser with Brush
A molecule found naturally in skin that can hold a large amount of water.
Helps hydrate the skin's surface and temporarily smooth the look of roughness. Best applied to damp skin, then sealed with something that slows water loss.
Found in:Hyaluronic Serum
A protein, usually broken down into smaller fragments for use in cosmetics.
Forms a thin film that slows water loss and temporarily improves how skin feels. It does not turn into collagen inside the skin.
Found in:Hyaluronic SerumSkin Moisturizing LotionMixed Skin Foam Cleanser with Brush
Water steam-distilled from rose petals.
Takes the place of some of the plain water in the formula and gives it a light rose scent without added fragrance.
Found in:Hyaluronic Serum
On cosmetic labels this almost always means panthenol, the form of vitamin B5 skin can use.
Helps hydrate and soothe the skin, and eases the tight feeling after cleansing or exfoliating.
Found in:Hyaluronic SerumVitamin C 10% SerumNiacinamide Serum
Water steam-distilled from lavender flowers.
Makes up part of the water in the formula and gives it a light lavender scent.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
An ingredient found naturally in skin, as part of its own moisturising factors.
Draws in and holds water in the outer layer of the skin, and helps soften rough, dry patches.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
Natural mineral-rich spring water.
Makes up part of the water in the formula and has a reputation for calming sensitive skin. The evidence is modest, but it is gentle and suits most skin.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
A sugar alcohol, and one of the most widely used and studied moisturising ingredients.
Draws water to the skin's surface. It works best alongside an oily ingredient that slows water loss, especially in dry weather.
Found in:Sun BlockMapella Shower Gel
Ingredients that coat the hair in a thin layer for shine and easier combing, and wash out with shampoo.
The small building blocks of the proteins that make up hair.
Settle on the surface of the hair and help smooth areas damaged by heat or colour. The effect is cosmetic and temporary.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate Shampoo
Silk protein broken down into small fragments.
Forms a thin film on the hair that adds smoothness and shine and makes it easier to comb.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair Conditioner
A trade name for a range of silicones, most commonly dimethicone.
Coats the hair in a smooth layer that adds shine, eases combing and reduces frizz. It washes out with shampoo.
Found in:Argan Hair Serum
A silicone, usually dimethicone; the number is its thickness grade, not its concentration.
Gives hair a silky feel and shine, and reduces friction when combing.
Found in:Argan Hair Serum
Ingredients that soften and reduce moisture loss. How they feel depends on your hair or skin type.
A liquid wax from the seeds of the jojoba plant.
Its make-up is close to the sebum the scalp produces, so it absorbs easily without leaving a heavy layer.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair Conditioner10 Oils Hair TreatmentSkin Moisturizing Lotion
A fat from the nut of the African shea tree.
Slows moisture loss and softens rough skin. Its rich texture suits the body and dry hair better than oily skin.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair Conditioner
The fat pressed from cocoa beans.
Forms a protective layer on the hair that slows water loss, leaving it softer and easier to comb.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair Conditioner
A Moroccan oil from the kernels of the argan tree, rich in fatty acids and vitamin E.
Leaves hair softer and shinier with less visible frizz, and moisturises skin without feeling heavy.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerArgan Hair Serum10 Oils Hair TreatmentSkin Moisturizing Lotion
A thick oil from the seeds of the castor plant.
Coats the hair, adds shine and reduces dryness. It has a reputation for speeding up hair growth, but there is no good evidence for that.
Found in:10 Oils Hair Treatment
A medium-weight oil pressed from sesame seeds.
Moisturises and softens hair, and contains natural antioxidants that help keep the blend stable.
Found in:10 Oils Hair Treatment
An oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Adds softness and shine. It oxidises quickly, which is one reason vitamin E is in the blend.
Found in:10 Oils Hair Treatment
The rest of the ten oils in the blend.
The pack names five of the oils and groups the remainder under this heading.
Found in:10 Oils Hair Treatment
A light oil from grape seeds, rich in linoleic acid.
Moisturises without a heavy, greasy feel and absorbs quickly, which suits a light lotion.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
An oil extracted from carrots, rich in beta-carotene.
Helps soften skin and gives the formula a light tint. It is often said to protect from the sun, but it adds no meaningful protection; in this product that comes from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Found in:Sun Block
An oil from the tubers of the nutgrass plant (Cyperus rotundus).
Traditionally used after hair removal to slow regrowth. There is little research on it, and results vary from person to person.
Found in:Sa'ad Oil
Ingredients that keep the texture stable and the product safe by limiting the growth of bacteria and mould.
Tocopherol, an antioxidant.
Protects the oils in the formula from going rancid, and also helps moisturise the skin.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerArgan Hair Serum10 Oils Hair TreatmentSkin Moisturizing LotionSun BlockSa'ad OilMixed Skin Foam Cleanser with Brush
A preservative.
Limits the growth of bacteria and mould in the product and keeps water-based formulas safe to use.
Found in:Shea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerArgan Hair SerumHyaluronic SerumSun BlockMapella Shower Gel
A helper ingredient the pack doesn't name.
Helps the oils spread and reach the hair strand rather than sitting on the surface.
A blend of fatty alcohols and emulsifiers that brings oil and water together.
Binds the oils and water into one smooth texture and stops the lotion separating over time.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
A preservative the pack doesn't name.
Essential in anything that contains water, because it stops bacteria and mould growing once the pack is open.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
Ingredients that give the product its scent or colour, listed openly on the pack.
A fragrance blend.
Gives the product its scent. It can irritate some sensitive skin, so it is worth checking for on the list.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate ShampooShea, Cocoa & Argan Hair ConditionerSkin Moisturizing LotionMapella Shower Gel
An approved cosmetic colourant.
Gives the product its colour in the bottle and has no functional effect on hair or skin.
Found in:Mapella Free Sulphate ShampooSkin Moisturizing LotionMapella Shower Gel
An extract from the resin of the frankincense (Boswellia) tree.
Gives the formula a warm scent and has a traditional reputation for soothing skin, though the evidence for that is limited.
Found in:Skin Moisturizing Lotion
The complete ingredient list appears on every pack; use this guide to understand what each ingredient does.