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Evening primrose oil is the oil extracted from the seed of the evening primrose plant. In humans, it's often used to treat skin conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis.
These Isle of Dogs Grooming Supplies for dogs use evening primrose oil to help soothe and health your pup's dry, itchy or irritated skin.
Many of the common ingredients found in cheap dog shampoos and conditioners could be toxic to your dog over time.
You may be one of the millions of pet owners who don't realize that the regulations on pet products aren't as strict as the regulations placed on human products.
The broad loopholes in the pet product industry allow companies to use cheap ingredients to make their products.
The cheaper the cost to them, the cheaper the product is for consumers. And we all know that many consumers shop based on price alone.
Don’t be one of those consumers!
A lot of dogs suffer from dry, itchy skin. We live in Maine, and the cold winter air dries out our dogs' skin.
I was hopeful that these Isle of Dogs grooming supplies would help keep our dogs clean without drying out their skin further.
Unfortunately, after looking at the ingredients in these products, I was a little concerned.
The bottom line is that these products are safer than many on the market, but they aren’t the highest quality grooming products that you can get.
Of course, every dog owner is on a budget, so if you can’t afford the 100% natural options out there, these Isle of Dogs grooming supplies are a much safer alternative than the bottom-of-the-barrel products you can purchase at big box stores for just a few dollars per bottle.
MORE: Dog Grooming Supplies 101 – The Ultimate Buyers' Guide
Isle of Dogs Grooming Supplies for Dogs Review
Are These Products Effective?
They absolutely are, and I was really happy with how well the shampoo cleaned our dogs' coats.
The conditioner works very well, and I'm pleased to report that it left their coats and skin soft and moisturized without leaving a greasy residue behind.
The evening primrose oil leaves behind a mild scent that lasts for a couple of days. I am sensitive to overpowering odors, so I was glad that these Isle of Dogs grooming supplies didn't have a strong artificial perfume or chemical smell.
As you can see in my video review, the shampoo also rinses out really easily. I don't like using waxy, greasy products that cling to the fur. Not only does it require more water to rinse it out, but it also adds more time to your dog's bath.
I don't know about you, but I like to get my dogs in and out of the tub as soon as possible, so anything that takes longer is very frustrating.
A small amount goes a long way with these products. Unlike some grooming products for dogs, I only need to use about two tablespoons of shampoo when bathing our Labrador.
It's easy to work down through her thick double coat to reach her skin.
You'll also see that I tried out one of Isle of Dogs' brush sprays. You can think of these as a cologne for dogs.
You just spray it directly on the dog or on her brush and then crush it through her coat. The smell lasts on our girls for about 3 days, so it's a nice way to keep your pooch fresh between baths.
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Are These Grooming Supplies Safe?
Now, let’s talk about the most important part – the ingredients.
While they work well to keep your dog smelling fresh and looking clean, some of the ingredients were a bit concerning to me.
I knew these products weren't all-natural, which was a drawback for me.
While all-natural products are more expensive, they're much safer for you and your dog.
I’m picky about the grooming products that I use with my girls, and over the years I’ve found that there are certain ingredients that you should stay away from when shopping for dog shampoos and conditioners.
First, let's take a look at the ingredients in each of these Isle of Dogs grooming supplies products:
N° 10 Evening Primrose Oil Dog Shampoo: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Cocamide DIPA, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-3 Distearate, Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, and Citric Acid
N° 50 Light Management Dog Conditioner with Evening Primrose Oil: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance, Red #33
N° 62 Evening Primrose Oil Dog Conditioning Mist: Water, SD Alcohol 40-B, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Fragrance
While the research is still unclear, some common ingredients found in dog grooming products may be dangerous for pets.
Unfortunately, some of these ingredients are found in the Isle of Dogs grooming supplies.
Remember that this is not the only shampoo with questionable ingredients. In fact, almost every dog shampoo on the market contains one or more of these ingredients.
So, which ingredients worry me?
The first is DMDM hydantoin. It is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. When formaldehyde began to develop a poor reputation, it was reformulated into other compounds that could be used in products without having to list formaldehyde as an ingredient.
These Isle of Dog grooming supplies also contain artificial fragrances and dyes. Some pets are allergic to these fragrances and will develop a rash, and these types of ingredients have also been known to dry out some dogs' skin.
Some experts believe that they may also lead to issues with the reproductive and endocrine systems, but no research has been completed to prove this hypothesis.
Another concerning ingredient is Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (IPBC). This is a water-based preservative that has been used in paints, primers, and coolants for many years.
More recently, it's been used in a wide variety of cosmetic products for humans and is a common ingredient in animal grooming products.
According to annmariegianni.com:
The Environmental Protection Agency notes that there is limited evidence of gastrointestinal and liver toxicity with IPBC, and Japan's Standards for Cosmetics restrict its use in cosmetics. Even the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has expressed concerns about toxicity with IPBC, and limits the use in cosmetics to concentrations less than or equal to 0.1%. They noted that at concentrations of 0.5% and above, it has the potential to irritate skin, and because of the dangers of inhaling the chemical, they recommend it not be used in products meant to be aerosolized.
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Isle of Dogs Grooming Supplies for Dogs Review: The Bottom Line
As I said before, the bottom line is that these products from the Isle of Dogs are safer than many on the market, but they aren’t 100% healthy or natural.
However, they’re also cheaper than 100% natural grooming products. All of these products can be found on Amazon. The prices are:
- N° 10 Evening Primrose Oil Dog Shampoo $23 for 8.4 ounces on Amazon
- N° 50 Light Management Dog Conditioner with Evening Primrose Oil $37.80 for 33.6 ounces on Amazon
- N° 63 Detangle Dog Conditioning Mist $28.63 for 8.4 ounces on Amazon
We’re all on a budget, so if you can’t afford the 100% natural options out there, these products are a much safer alternative than the bottom-of-the-barrel products you can purchase at big box stores for about $2 a bottle.
Isle of Dogs grooming supplies is also made in the U.S.A. These grooming products fall into the middle of the pack as far as shampoos and conditioners go.
They’re affordable and made with some ingredients that are extremely beneficial for your pet’s skin and coat.
My advice would be to educate yourself on all of the ingredients in any product that you buy for your Fido.
Purchase a product that will meet your needs, be safe for your pet, and fit into your budget.
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