Wendi Wonders…Have you heard of the OneGroup and their products? I understand it’s similar to Arbonne, but was hoping it can hold up to all of the claims of being natural, organic, etc. Any help or information would be outstanding!

The Left Brain Takes A Deep Breath And Then Begins Typing…
First, in case you’re not familiar with OneGroup, here’s a quick quote from their website that pretty much sums up their entire concept:

The ONE Group story began with a shared dream and passion for the health of people and the planet. The founders Narelle Chenery, Alf Orpen and John Hunter combined their own unique talents, expertise and experience to form Organic & Natural Enterprise Group.ONE Group has committed years to researching and developing a range of unique, winning product formulas. ONE Groups certified organic personal care range is unique - the worlds first extensive Certified Organic personal care range, certified to International food standards

Long time readers of The Beauty Brains know that anytime we see the words “organic” or “natural” we cringe because those terms are so abused. We cringe when we see Arbonne too, but that’s only because of the abuse we’ve taken about that topic. While we applaud the idea of fostering a safer, healthier ecosphere, we cringe at companies that capitalize on people’s love of the environment to make a buck.

We’re not saying that’s the case with OneGroup and we’re not here to comment on their politics. That’s for you to decide on a personal level. We’re just here to give you the straight scoop on their formulations and here it is, starting with one of their shampoo formulas…

What’s In It:

Organic aloe vera, coco polyglucose, yucca extract, d-panthenol, organic safflower seed oil, organic avocado oil, non-gmo xanthan gum, lime essential oil, honeysuckle extract, citric acid, organic horsetail extract, organic nettle extract, organic burdock extract, organic rosemary extract, organic sage extract. 75% Organic Product

The Beauty Brains Tell You What These Ingredients Do:
Aloe vera in a shampoo doesn’t do much of anything - it isn’t really an effective cleansing agent.

Coco Polyglucose is a mild cleansing agent like those used in baby shampoos which is good. But it doesn’t do a great job of cleaning and you might find you have to lather up 2 or 3 times, especially if you use a lot of mousse, gel or hairspray.

Yucca extract does create a mild foam if you use enough of it, but it usually doesn’t really add much to a formula.

The rest of the extracts don’t do anything for your hair at all - whether or not they’re organic doesn’t really matter.

Yes this product is created using “certified organic” ingredients but that really only means that the ingredient suppliers can document that no pesticides or fertilizers were used to grow the plants that the extracts come from. (We’re simplifying a bit here but that’s the basic idea behind “organic.” It DOESN’T mean that the products work any differently or any better.)

What OneGroup Says Their Shampoo Will Do:

Ultra mild for daily use. Great for babies and children! Extremely mild Yucca juice and polyglucose gently cleanse the hair. Panthenol moisturises the hair. Organic avocado oil restores lustre and hydrates dry and damaged ends. Organic herbs add sheen and body to your hair.

And What The Beauty Brain’s Say It Really Does:
Ok, time for a reality check. This shampoo might be ok for babies or if you have a really sensitive scalp or are bothered by eye sting. But it won’t suit the purposes of most adults. It won’t clean as well as most shampoos and organic herbs will not add sheen and body to your hair.

The Beauty Brain’s Bottom Line:
All environmental concerns aside, for most people, spending $14.95 for 8.5 fl oz. of shampoo is an unnecessary indulgence. If you’re worried about irritating your eyes or your scalp, buy Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. It’s a lot cheaper and it does the same thing as this product. And if you’re really worried about the environment, sell your SUV and buy a hybrid vehicle. It’ll have a greater impact.