This is a clarifying anti-dandruff shampoo formulated with piroctone olamine and strong cleansing sulfates to effectively remove flakes and control excess scalp oil.
The formula provides solid, reliable cleansing power through a primary surfactant blend of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, boosted by Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Cocamide MEA for rich, dense foam. The inclusion of Piroctone Olamine effectively targets dandruff and maintains scalp hygiene. To balance this deep-cleansing action, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-76, and Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride work alongside fatty alcohols (Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol) to deliver smoothing, anti-frizz, and conditioning benefits. While highly effective at clarifying and detangling, the intense surfactant base may slightly compromise moisture retention for drier hair textures.
The product scores moderately on safety due to several known sensitizing and irritating ingredients. A primary concern is the presence of the preservative duo Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, potent contact allergens that can provoke skin reactions in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, placing unspecified Fragrance high on the ingredient list elevates the risk of allergic contact dermatitis. The combination of strong anionic sulfates like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate can also disrupt the scalp barrier, leading to dryness or irritation. Additionally, synthetic colorants such as CI 19140 and CI 42090 slightly lower the overall formulation safety.
The overall assessment reflects a functional balance between strong clarifying efficacy and elevated irritation potential. On one hand, the shampoo excels at deep cleansing, controlling flakes with Piroctone Olamine, and offering manageable softness via silicone and conditioning polymers. On the other hand, the presence of harsh sulfates, high-concentration Fragrance, and allergenic isothiazolinone preservatives narrows its suitability for everyday use on delicate or reactive scalps. It stands as an effective, conventional clarifying option that delivers noticeable cosmetic performance but warrants caution for individuals prone to contact allergies or scalp sensitivity.
This shampoo is built around a potent cleansing system driven by Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), supported by Cocamidopropyl Betaine. This surfactant combination generates a rich lather that thoroughly removes stubborn sebum, environmental grime, and styling product buildup. The inclusion of Piroctone Olamine serves as an effective active ingredient to target Malassezia yeast, making it highly capable of relieving flaking, itching, and common dandruff concerns associated with overactive oil production.
To balance the high-cleansing power of primary sulfates, the formula incorporates conditioning agents such as Dimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, and Polyquaternium-76. These conditioning polymers work alongside fatty alcohols like Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol to coat the hair shaft, smooth the cuticle, and prevent excessive post-wash friction or tangling. This ensures that strands retain adequate slip and manageability without interfering with the primary scalp-purifying performance of the wash.
The addition of Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract and Citric Acid helps maintain a balanced pH while contributing to an invigorating, deeply refreshed sensation during cleansing. Humectants like Glycerin and Propylene Glycol offer light hydration to the upper layers of the scalp. However, because the formulation contains strong degreasing surfactants, individuals with chronic dryness may find that frequent daily use leads to mild barrier depletion if not alternated with gentler moisturizers.
Overall, this product provides an effective, mass-market solution for individuals needing dependable dandruff control and grease reduction. Those with sensitive skin or contact allergies should take note of standard sensitizers such as Fragrance and the preservative blend of Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. For users with normal to oily scalps experiencing noticeable flaking, this formulation offers robust cleansing power and proven anti-dandruff efficacy at an accessible level.
🧪 Sodium Laureth Sulfate / 月桂醇聚醚硫酸酯钠
Purpose: Primary cleansing agent that produces rich lather and removes sebum and dirt.
Concerns: May cause skin or scalp irritation in sensitive individuals; risk of trace 1,4-dioxane contamination during ethoxylation.
Notes: Milder than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate due to the ethoxylation process.
🧪 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / 月桂醇硫酸酯钠
Purpose: Primary surfactant and powerful foaming agent for deep cleansing.
Concerns: Known potential skin, scalp, and eye irritant when used in high concentrations.
Notes: Frequently paired with milder co-surfactants to mitigate irritancy while maintaining strong foam.
🧪 Cocamidopropyl Betaine / 椰油酰胺丙基甜菜碱
Purpose: Amphoteric secondary surfactant that boosts foam and reduces the harshness of sulfate surfactants.
Concerns: Can occasionally cause contact allergic dermatitis, often due to manufacturing impurities (e.g., amidoamine).
Notes: Naturally derived from coconut fatty acids.
🧪 Cocamide MEA / 椰油酰胺 MEA
Purpose: Non-ionic surfactant that acts as a foam booster and viscosity builder.
Concerns: May contain trace residual ethanolamines, though considered safe in rinse-off formulations.
Notes: Helps stabilize lather even in hard water.
🧪 Sodium Xylenesulfonate / 二甲苯磺酸钠
Purpose: Hydrotropic surfactant and viscosity regulator that increases formula clarity and solubilization.
Notes: Prevents cloudiness and lowers viscosity in surfactant-rich formulations.
🧪 Dimethicone / 聚二甲基硅氧烷
Purpose: Silicone-based conditioning polymer that smooths hair cuticles, adds shine, and reduces wet combing friction.
Concerns: May cause product buildup over time on fine or low-porosity hair if not washed out periodically with clarifying shampoo.
Notes: Forms a breathable hydrophobic barrier on the hair shaft.
🧪 Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride / 瓜尔胶羟丙基三甲基氯化铵
Purpose: Cationic conditioning polymer derived from guar gum that reduces static flyaways and detangles hair.
Notes: Adheres effectively to negatively charged damaged hair cuticles.
🧪 Polyquaternium-76 / 聚季铵盐-76
Purpose: Synthetic cationic polymer that provides wet and dry combability, softness, and volume enhancement.
Notes: Offers high conditioning efficiency without heavy weight or buildup.
🧪 Stearyl Alcohol / 硬脂醇
Purpose: Fatty alcohol emollient and conditioning agent that softens hair and helps build emulsion texture.
Notes: Non-drying fatty alcohol derived from natural vegetable oils or fats.
🧪 Cetyl Alcohol / 鲸蜡醇
Purpose: Fatty alcohol that conditions hair strands and adds slip and emollience.
Notes: Unlike simple alcohols (e.g., ethanol), fatty alcohols provide moisturizing and lubricating properties.
🧪 Glycol Distearate / 乙二醇二硬脂酸酯
Purpose: Opacifier, pearlescent agent, and viscosity builder that gives shampoo a pearly, creamy appearance.
Notes: Insoluble ester that crystallizes in the formulation to reflect light.
🧪 Sodium Chloride / 氯化钠
Purpose: Viscosity adjuster and thickening agent in anionic surfactant systems.
Concerns: High salt levels may dry out severely stripped or chemically treated hair.
Notes: Acts by swelling surfactant micelles to increase solution viscosity cheaply and effectively.
🧪 Water / 水
Purpose: Main solvent and carrier for dissolving water-soluble ingredients and forming the bulk formula base.
Notes: Typically deionized or purified in cosmetic manufacturing.
🧪 Glycerin / 甘油
Purpose: Classic humectant that attracts and binds moisture to the scalp and hair fibers.
Notes: One of the most effective and widely studied hygroscopic agents in personal care.
🧪 Propylene Glycol / 丙二醇
Purpose: Cosolvent, humectant, and penetration enhancer for active ingredients.
Concerns: May cause mild skin irritation or contact dermatitis in individuals with sensitive skin.
Notes: Helps maintain product stability across varying storage temperatures.
🧪 Piroctone Olamine / 吡罗克酮乙醇胺盐
Purpose: Antidandruff and antimicrobial agent that targets Malassezia yeast on the scalp.
Notes: A modern, highly effective antidandruff alternative to Zinc Pyrithione and Ketoconazole.
🧪 Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract / 柠檬果提取物
Purpose: Botanical extract providing mild astringency, scalp clarifying, and antioxidant benefits.
Concerns: Citrus extracts contain photosensitizing components if leave-on, though negligible in rinse-off shampoo.
Notes: Contains naturally occurring citric acid and bioflavonoids.
🧪 Citric Acid / 柠檬酸
Purpose: pH adjustor used to lower the formulation pH to scalp- and hair-friendly acidic levels (pH 4.5-5.5).
Notes: Naturally derived alpha-hydroxy acid that also exhibits mild chelating properties.
🧪 Sodium Hydroxide / 氢氧化钠
Purpose: Alkaline agent used in minute amounts to increase and balance formulation pH.
Concerns: Corrosive in pure form, but completely safe once neutralized in the final balanced formulation.
Notes: Commonly used for precise neutralization alongside acidic components.
🧪 Hydrochloric Acid / 盐酸
Purpose: Strong acid utilized in trace quantities for fine pH titration.
Concerns: Safe and inert in final formulation after neutralization.
Notes: Ensures the shampoo remains at a precise target pH for optimal preservative activity.
🧪 Sodium Citrate / 柠檬酸钠
Purpose: Buffering agent paired with citric acid to maintain stable pH over product shelf life.
Notes: Also acts as a mild auxiliary chelating agent.
🧪 Tetrasodium EDTA / EDTA 四钠
Purpose: Chelating agent that binds calcium, magnesium, and heavy metal ions to prevent formula degradation.
Concerns: Poor environmental biodegradability, leading to bioaccumulation concerns in aquatic environments.
Notes: Improves surfactant lathering capacity in hard water and synergizes preservative efficacy.
🧪 Sodium Benzoate / 苯甲酸钠
Purpose: Preservative active against fungi and yeast in acidic formulations.
Notes: Only effective at a formulation pH below 5.0 where undissociated benzoic acid is present.
🧪 Methylchloroisothiazolinone / 甲基氯异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative effective against bacteria and fungi.
Concerns: Known contact allergen and sensitizer; restricted to rinse-off formulations only under strict regulatory limits.
Notes: Often combined in a 3:1 ratio with Methylisothiazolinone as the preservative blend Kathon CG.
🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Broad-spectrum synthetic preservative that prevents microbial contamination.
Concerns: Significant potential for skin sensitization and contact allergy in sensitive populations.
Notes: Subject to strict maximum concentration limits (typically 15 ppm in rinse-off products in the EU).
🧪 Magnesium Nitrate / 硝酸镁
Purpose: Preservative stabilizer incorporated into isothiazolinone blends to inhibit chemical breakdown.
Notes: Standard inert stabilizing salt included with commercial isothiazolinone raw materials.
🧪 Magnesium Chloride / 氯化镁
Purpose: Co-stabilizer for the isothiazolinone preservative system and auxiliary viscosity modifier.
Notes: Works synergistically with magnesium nitrate to extend preservative shelf life.
🧪 Fragrance / 香精
Purpose: Provides a pleasant scent and masks the base odor of raw surfactant materials.
Concerns: One of the most frequent causes of cosmetic contact dermatitis and fragrance allergies.
Notes: Can represent a proprietary mixture of dozens to hundreds of synthetic and natural aroma compounds.
🧪 CI 19140 / CI 19140
Purpose: Synthetic yellow colorant (Tartrazine / FD&C Yellow No. 5) added for aesthetic product appearance.
Concerns: Rare instances of allergic reactions in sensitive or atopic individuals.
Notes: Water-soluble azo dye heavily used in food, drugs, and cosmetics.
🧪 CI 42090 / CI 42090
Purpose: Synthetic blue colorant (Brilliant Blue FCF / FD&C Blue No. 1) used to tint the formula.
Notes: Commonly blended with CI 19140 to produce varying shades of green.