I’m always a little skeptical of 2-in-1 products; shampoos that are also conditioners rarely do either thing well — and leave hair feeling oily and tangled — so I didn’t have high hopes for Philip B’s lavender hair and body shampoo. But it turns out that even though it’s sodium lauryl sulfate- (SLS) free, the shampoo really lathers up nicely as both a body wash and a gentle shampoo. Why should you care if there’s SLS in your shampoos and body washes? SLS has been found to be an irritant to skin and has been known to cause problems for people with skin sensitivity, so it’s good to avoid it if you can. Plus, buying one product instead of two cuts down on environmental waste, and the pleasant and calming lavender scent doesn’t hurt, either. I might just have to learn to love the 2-in-1 thing a little more. [Philip B, $30]
