Shampoo

Why it's rated this way

3 ingredients on this label are flagged. A cosmetic's rating is set by its most serious finding — here, Sodium Hydroxide.

1. Sodium HydroxideMinor concernAlkali (lye). It is used up in the product: as a pH adjuster it neutralises an acid in the formula, and in soap it turns the oils into soap. The EU caps the alkalinity it may leave (pH 11 for pH-adjuster use); the higher limits, with warnings, are only for hair straighteners, cuticle removers and depilatories.

   What it is

   Its recorded role: buffering and denaturant. About Sodium Hydroxide

   Why it's flagged

   Alkali (lye). It is used up in the product: as a pH adjuster it neutralises an acid in the formula, and in soap it turns the oils into soap. The EU caps the alkalinity it may leave (pH 11 for pH-adjuster use); the higher limits, with warnings, are only for hair straighteners, cuticle removers and depilatories.

   Regulatory basis

   EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III — allowed only within set limits and conditions; Greenveil's curated cosmetic-ingredient concern list.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. The label names this substance exactly.

2. Red 40Minor concernPermitted cosmetic colorant.

   What it is

   Its recorded role: colorant and hair dyeing. About Red 40

   Why it's flagged

   Permitted cosmetic colorant.

   Regulatory basis

   EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex IV — permitted colourant, with conditions; Greenveil's curated cosmetic-ingredient concern list.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. The label names this substance exactly.

3. Hydrolyzed Wheat ProteinMinor concernWheat protein fragments, used for conditioning. Soap with a large-peptide wheat hydrolysate caused wheat allergies in Japan, so the EU caps the average peptide size at 3.5 kDa; relevant if you have a wheat allergy.

   What it is

   Its recorded role: skin conditioning and hair conditioning. About Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

   Why it's flagged

   Wheat protein fragments, used for conditioning. Soap with a large-peptide wheat hydrolysate caused wheat allergies in Japan, so the EU caps the average peptide size at 3.5 kDa; relevant if you have a wheat allergy.

   Regulatory basis

   EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III — allowed only within set limits and conditions; Greenveil's curated cosmetic-ingredient concern list.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. The label names this substance exactly.

Assessed against the label as captured: all 28 ingredients recognised.