Among the plethora of beauty products lining the shelves of our favorite beauty supply stores, only a select few achieve the coveted status of holy-grail favorites. These are the products that stand the test of time, becoming icons in their own right. Some classics include Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, La Mer’s famed moisturizing cream, and the subject of today’s discussion: Living Proof Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo ($33).
If you’re new to the formula, it’s about time you consider adding it to your hair-care routine. It cleans hair like traditional shampoo, removing oil and sweat and infusing it with softness and shine so it looks freshly washed. To give you an idea of its popularity, the brand says it sells one every six (!) seconds.
The viral dry shampoo has garnered numerous accolades. Among them: Lily Collins. Even though she’s a Living Proof brand ambassador, her endorsement still speaks volumes. “It smells amazing, and it doesn’t leave any residue,” she told NewBeauty in April 2022.
When asked by WhoWhatWear which Living Proof products she’d choose if limited to three for life, she couldn’t help but choose it. “I almost always have it in the car or in my bag,” she shared with the outlet. “I use it almost every day.”
Collins is in good company; Paris Hilton also deems the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo her “secret weapon for fresh hair in seconds.”
While we appreciate celebrity praise, we’re equally impressed by its ingredient list. It’s free of controversial ingredients like sulfates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, talc, and formaldehyde. Another? Benzene. This known carcinogen has gained attention for being present in unhealthy quantities in some dry shampoos over the years.
This conversation really picked up in 2022, when the industry was hit with the news that benzene was an ingredient in many aerosol hair products. “Benzene is a volatile chemical used in the production of a wide range of industrial products,” Ron McLaughlin, senior vice president of product development for Living Proof previously told NewBeauty. “This includes chemicals, dyes, detergents, and some plastics.”
“Benzene is formed from both natural processes, such as volcanoes,” he continued. “It’s also formed from human activities, such as tobacco smoke, emissions from automobiles, and burning coal and oil. Unintentionally, benzene can also show up as a by-product, or as an impurity in what is known as ‘trace amounts in certain raw materials.’”
In response to the news, McLaughlin said that the Living Proof team “has been working closely with the FDA to ensure we follow their guidance on testing and tolerance levels.”
“Our Research & Development and Compliance Teams take it a step further to work with raw material suppliers to establish thorough safety testing, parameters and specifications on incoming lots of raw material to test for benzene before going into production,” he said.
In other words, you can rest-assured that the brand’s doing its due-diligence to keep its products benzene-free, or within safe levels. Your hair will thank you.
