What “2.5% 2-DDR” means on a cosmetic label

Formula 01 states 2.5% 2-deoxy-D-ribose on its label. Here is what that number means, how to compare it with other 2DDR products, and what it does not tell you. Formula 01 is a high-concentration 2-Deoxy-D-Ribose (2dDR) cosmetic scalp serum for fuller-looking hair, and the label says exactly how high.

What concentration of 2DDR is in a serum?

The concentration of 2DDR in a serum depends on the product, and the label is the place to check. Formula 01 states 2.5% 2-deoxy-D-ribose, meaning 2.5 grams per 100 grams of finished serum, which makes it a high-concentration 2dDR serum. Some products list 2DDR without a percentage, so amounts cannot be compared.

The number on the label

2.5% means 2.5 grams of 2-deoxy-D-ribose per 100 grams of finished product. The label states the concentration so a buyer can see the amount of the active in the bottle.

Stating the percentage does not claim that the amount produces a specific result. It is ingredient transparency.

How to compare 2DDR labels

• Is a percentage stated at all? An ingredient name without a number tells you it is in there, not how much.
• Leave-on or rinse-off? A leave-on serum stays on the scalp until the next wash; a rinse-off product is washed away within minutes. The same number means something different in each.
• What is the base? A gel, a thin liquid and an oil spread and feel differently on the scalp.
• What else is in the formula? Look at the other actives, the preservative system and whether it is fragrance-free.

What the number does not tell you

A higher percentage is not automatically better. The number does not tell you how a product feels, how stable it is or whether it suits your routine, and it is not a promise of any result. A cosmetic serum lists its concentration so the buyer knows what is in the bottle.

Keep reading

• How the alginate gel base works: how the base spreads and dries to a thin film
• A five-point label checklist for 2DDR serums: percentage, base, leave-on or rinse-off, preservative, claims
• The six actives at their stated levels: what each ingredient does in the formula
• 2-DDR in hair products, explained: the core ingredient of Formula 01