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A97

Gentle Shampoo Bar, Fragrance Free

Ethique · Bars & concentratesNo red flagsWatch-out17 ingredients · 3 to watch

Passes all four red flags. 3 ingredients to watch.

Grade

AYour red flags
AConsumer Reports strict
AEvidence only

−3 from evidence

Passes all four red flags. No fragrance, sulfates, silicones or contested preservatives.

Ingredients, in label order

Explain every ingredient
  • Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate — Good, Mild cleanser. A gentle surfactant. Cleans without stripping the scalp.
  • Stearic Acid — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate — Good, Mild cleanser. A gentle surfactant. Cleans without stripping the scalp.
  • Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Coconut Acid — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Betaine — Good, Moisturizer / soother. Hydrates or calms the scalp.
  • Brassica Alcohol — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Behentrimonium Methosulfate — Watch, Quat conditioner. A conditioning agent that breaks down slowly in water. Consumer Reports' stricter list flags quats. Evidence: weak.
  • Sodium Isethionate — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Glycerine — Good, Moisturizer / soother. Hydrates or calms the scalp.
  • Aqua (Water) — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Lactic Acid — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride — Watch, Quat conditioner. A conditioning agent that breaks down slowly in water. Consumer Reports' stricter list flags quats. Evidence: weak.
  • Benzyl Alcohol — Watch, Scent allergen. A preservative that is also on the EU list of fragrance allergens. Geogard ECT is a trade-name blend that contains it. Evidence: weak.
  • Sodium Chloride — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
  • Dehydroacetic Acid — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.

Watch-outs

  • Private equityBought by Bansk Group in 2020. A 2024 rebrand changed the names, shapes and marketing, so older reviews may describe a different formula.
  • Brand claim'1 bar = 3 bottles' is the brand's figure.

Score breakdown

Starting score100
Scent allergen (benzyl alcohol)−3
Score97 → A

Where to buy

StoreSizePricePer wash
Target3.9 bar$14.00$0.19/wash
Brand site3.9 bar——