What we leave out
A formula begins with what to leave out
Before asking what goes in, we ask what should not be there. This is the list, and the reason for each line.
u turn
Dietary supplement · 18 ingredients
- 01
Vitamin AWhy
Most people already get enough from food and multivitamins. It is fat-soluble, so it accumulates, and excess intake is linked with abnormal shedding.
Instead
None at all — food does this job.
- 02
Biotin in the thousands of microgramsWhy
Very high biotin interferes with some blood tests, including thyroid hormones and cardiac enzymes, and the added benefit in people who are not deficient is unclear.
Instead
Biotin at 900 mcg (600% RDI) — enough for the wording the Thai FDA permits, without chasing a number.
- 03
Selenium above 100% RDIWhy
Selenium has a narrow safe range, and many people already get some from seafood or a multivitamin.
Instead
Selenium at 55 mcg (79% RDI), as glycinate.
- 04
Iron and zinc as sulfate or oxideWhy
Inorganic salts are cheaper, but many people feel queasy on them and they usually have to be taken on an empty stomach.
Instead
Iron and zinc as bisglycinate (chelated to an amino acid), taken with a meal every day.
- 05
Niacin as nicotinic acidWhy
Nicotinic acid causes flushing in many people, even at modest amounts.
Instead
Vitamin B3 as nicotinamide, which does not.
one pen
Cosmetic · 10 actives
- 01
EthanolWhy
Alcohol dries fast and makes a formula easier. Used every morning and night, though, a sensitive scalp tends to dry out and sting.
Instead
A water base with humectants — glycerin, betaine and sodium hyaluronate.
- 02
Fragrance and essential oilsWhy
Scent is the first thing that makes a product feel expensive. It is also the most frequent cause of contact allergy in cosmetics.
Instead
No scent at all — ONE PEN smells only of its raw materials.
- 03
MentholWhy
A cooling tingle makes a product feel like it is working at once, but the feeling comes from irritated nerve endings, not from care.
Instead
A light serum that does not need to create a sensation to prove it is there.
- 04
DyeWhy
Colour does nothing on the scalp and adds one more substance to assess for no reason.
Instead
The serum is the natural colour of its extracts.
- 05
SiliconesWhy
Silicones make hair feel slick at once, but build up on the scalp when a leave-in product is used daily.
Instead
A thin, water-rinsable film from dextran and hydroxyethylcellulose.
See every ingredient · Standards & documents
This page explains formulation choices; it makes no claim about results. U-TURN is a dietary supplement, not intended to prevent or treat any disease. ONE PEN is a cosmetic that conditions scalp and hair.