Fails on sulfate, silicone, fragrance, mi / mci preservative. 4 more ingredients to watch.
Grade
FYour red flags
FConsumer Reports strict
BEvidence only
−22 from evidence · −56 from preference
4 red flags found. Sulfate: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate · Sulfate: Sodium Laureth Sulfate · Silicone: Dimethicone · Fragrance: Fragrance · MI / MCI preservative: Methylchloroisothiazolinone · MI / MCI preservative: Methylisothiazolinone
Ingredients, in label order
Explain every ingredient
- Water — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — Red flag, Sulfate. A strong detergent that strips oils and can irritate sensitive scalps. Your red flag.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate — Red flag, Sulfate. A strong detergent that strips oils and can irritate sensitive scalps. Your red flag.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine — Watch, Betaine surfactant. A common mild surfactant. Allergy cases are usually traced to manufacturing impurities. Evidence: weak.
- Glycol Distearate — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Sodium Citrate — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Cocamide MEA — Watch, Foam booster. A foam booster. Cocamide DEA is on California's Prop 65 list. Low concern in rinse-off use. Evidence: weak.
- Sodium Xylenesulfonate — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Dimethicone — Red flag, Silicone. Coats the hair shaft and can build up. Dimethicone and cyclic silicones break down slowly in the environment. Your red flag.
- Fragrance — Red flag, Fragrance. An undisclosed blend of scent chemicals. The most common cause of allergy to cosmetics. Evidence: strong.
- 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.
- Citric 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 Benzoate — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Tetrasodium EDTA — 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.
- Polyquaternium-6 — Watch, Quat conditioner. A conditioning agent that breaks down slowly in water. Consumer Reports' stricter list flags quats. Evidence: weak.
- Histidine — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Panthenol — Good, Moisturizer / soother. Hydrates or calms the scalp.
- Panthenyl Ethyl Ether — Neutral. A structural ingredient, such as water, a thickener, a pH adjuster, an oil or a common preservative. No concern at normal levels.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone — Red flag, MI / MCI preservative. A leading cause of preservative contact allergy. The EU restricts it in rinse-off products. Evidence: strong.
- Methylisothiazolinone — Red flag, MI / MCI preservative. A leading cause of preservative contact allergy. The EU restricts it in rinse-off products. Evidence: strong.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| Fragrance | −20 |
| Sulfate (SLS) + Second sulfate (SLES) | −21 |
| Silicone (dimethicone) | −15 |
| MI/MCI preservative | −15 |
| Betaine surfactant | −3 |
| Foam booster | −4 |
| Score | 22 → F |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per wash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everywhere | — | — | — |
Shopper notes
- Brand history: P&G recalled some Pantene aerosol dry shampoos for benzene in 2021. This liquid shampoo was not affected.