What's inside,
what it does,
and what it won't do.
Real ingredient deep-dive — including the studies, the doses, and the honest limits. We didn't run a $2M RCT, and we won't pretend we did.
01 KIB Peptide™ Complex
KIB Peptide™ Complex
A signal peptide engineered to dock with follicle dermal papilla cells. In vitro studies on isolated dermal papilla cultures (n=24, 48-hour incubation, 2024) show a 31% increase in growth-factor expression versus vehicle control.
Sustainably fermented in EU-certified labs. Sourced through Givaudan / Lipotec specialty chemistry network.
Present at 1.2% in Booster Oil, 0.8% in Finish Serum, 0.5% in Tonic — well above the lower bound of efficacious dose ranges reported in supplier-published research.
02 Rosemary CO₂ extract
Rosemary CO₂ extract
Rosmarinic acid + carnosic acid concentrate. A 2015 randomised controlled trial (Panahi et al., n=100, 6 months) found rosemary oil 1% non-inferior to minoxidil 2% on hair count, with significantly lower scalp itch reports (15% vs 51%).
Spanish rosemary, supercritical CO₂ extraction — preserves heat-sensitive actives that conventional ethanol extraction destroys.
Present at 1.5% in Booster Oil. We don't use it in Tonic because daily exposure exceeds the irritation comfort zone for sensitive scalps.
03 Caffeine (1.5%)
Caffeine (1.5%)
A vasodilator. In vitro research (Fischer et al., 2007, International Journal of Dermatology) demonstrated dose-dependent enhancement of hair shaft elongation at concentrations 0.001-0.005% in cultured follicles. Higher topical concentrations compensate for limited skin penetration in vivo.
USP-grade pharmaceutical caffeine. The same molecule as in your coffee, just standardised for topical use.
1.5% in Tonic. Above the 0.5% threshold cited in most cosmetic-claim regulation, well below thresholds for irritation in skin patch testing.
04 Pumpkin seed oil
Pumpkin seed oil
Contains phytosterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol) that modulate 5-alpha-reductase activity in vitro. A 2014 RCT in men with androgenic alopecia (Cho et al., n=76, 24 weeks) found 400 mg/day oral pumpkin seed oil increased hair count 40% versus placebo's 10%. Topical mechanism is hypothesised, not proven.
Austrian Styrian pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca). Cold-pressed, organic certified.
3% in Booster Oil. We include it for the lipid-soluble phytosterols + skin-conditioning benefits — not as standalone treatment.
05 Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Improves epidermal barrier function via increased ceramide synthesis. On the hair shaft, in vitro tensile testing shows 12-18% improvement in breaking-stress resistance at 2% topical concentration (cosmetic supplier studies, multiple sources).
Bulk USP-grade. Stable across formulation pH and temperature ranges.
2% in Tonic and Finish Serum. Standard cosmetic dose range. Not present in Booster Oil — too polar to mix well with the oil base.
We could write "clinically proven" on every bottle and survive an FDA letter. We don't, because the evidence we have is consumer-perception, not double-blind RCT — and there's a meaningful difference.
What our products
won't do.
We turn customers away regularly when their situation requires medical intervention, not cosmetic topicals. If you're in any of these categories, we'd rather you see the right specialist than try our system and feel let down.
Genetic male-pattern alopecia (Norwood IV+)
Once follicles have miniaturised to the vellus stage, topical actives can support remaining viable follicles but won't regenerate hair from dead ones. For Norwood IV+, the evidence base for finasteride or low-level laser therapy is stronger than for any cosmetic actives.
Telogen effluvium triggered by medical cause
Acute shedding from thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency, post-surgery, or new medications is best addressed by treating the underlying cause first. Cosmetic topicals can support recovery but won't substitute medical diagnosis.
Scarring alopecias
Conditions like lichen planopilaris involve permanent destruction of follicles. Topical actives are not therapeutic for these — see a dermatologist.
Children under 16
We haven't tested on under-16 populations. We don't recommend our products for that age group, regardless of the marketing potential.
The papers we cited.
- Panahi Y. et al. "Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial." Skinmed (2015)
- Cho Y. et al. "Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2014)
- Fischer T.W. et al. "Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles in vitro." International Journal of Dermatology (2007)
- Vitafolix Consumer Perception Study, 2024-2025. n=60 participants, 12-week protocol, self-report questionnaire validated against independent observer scoring. Full methodology available on request: science@vitafolix.us