Guide
Reading a Skala ingredient list
The back of every Skala pack lists what is inside. The order of that list tells you more than the front of the jar.
The order tells you the amount
US rules ask cosmetic makers to list ingredients from most to least. On a Skala cream the list opens with water and a fatty alcohol such as cetearyl alcohol, which gives the cream its body.
Oils and butters named on the front of the jar usually appear in the middle of the list.
“The ingredients must be declared in descending order of predominance.”
First five, side by side
The opening of the list is where products differ least. The differences sit further down, in the oils, extracts and fragrance.
| Product | First five ingredients on the label |
|---|---|
| Mais Cachos 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
| Mais Crespos 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
| Maracujá & Patauá 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
| Mais Lisos 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Shea Butter Cetyl Esters |
| Divino Potão 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
| Potão do Amor 2-in-1 Treatment Cream | Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
Vegan and free-from statements
Most Skala packs state that the formula is vegan and made without parabens or silicones. Skala says the whole range has been vegan since 2018.
A statement on the front and the list on the back should agree. Where they do not, trust the list.
“In 2018, Skala became 100% vegan, replacing all ingredients of animal origin with plant-based ones.”
Cosmetic, not medicine
A shampoo or cream that cleans and conditions hair is a cosmetic. A product sold to treat a condition is regulated as a drug, with different labelling.
“For example, an antidandruff shampoo is a cosmetic because its intended use is to cleanse the hair, and it is also a drug because its intended use is to treat dandruff.”
Question
In one line
Does Skala contain parabens or silicones?
Most Skala packs state that they are made without parabens and silicones. At least 1 newer line, Rosemary & Patauá, lists parabens on its label, so check the back of the pack.
Sources
Where the quotes come from
- Summary of Cosmetics Labeling RequirementsU.S. Food and Drug Administration · read 8 October 2026
- Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · read 8 October 2026
- 100% Vegan & Cruelty-FreeSkala Brasil (brand owner's site) · read 8 October 2026
General information about cosmetic hair products. It is not medical advice.
Keep reading
More Skala guides
How to use a Skala treatment cream
Mask, leave-in or co-wash: the uses each jar names.
Skala names, decoded
Mais Cachos, Babosa, Potão: what the Portuguese on the jar means.
Skala packs and the price per jar
Singles, packs of two to six, and what each jar costs in a pack.