Shampoo & Wash, Original
Why this score
Concern53 / 55
- No ingredients carry meaningful, evidence-backed concern.
How much genuine, cited concern the ingredients carry, weighted by how much of each is likely present and whether the product stays on or rinses off.
Transparency12 / 20
- Uses an undisclosed "fragrance/parfum" blend, so its scent allergens are hidden.
Whether the full ingredient list, and any fragrance, are actually disclosed.
Formulation restraint21 / 25
- 1 known irritant or fragrance-allergen ingredient: Coco Betaine.
Needless irritant or allergen load for the product type. A clean, purposeful formula scores well without any "free-from" theater.
Reviewed by PlainBody Editorial · Updated July 2026
What’s inside
WaterGenerally safe
The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.
Full ingredient details →Decyl GlucosideGenerally safe
Another sugar-and-fatty-alcohol derived non-ionic surfactant, structurally close to coco-glucoside but made from a shorter (decyl, C10) fatty chain. It is a gentle cleanser generally well tolerated, though a small number of contact-allergy case reports exist, mostly in people with pre-existing skin conditions.
Full ingredient details →Coco BetaineWatch if sensitive
A coconut-derived, mild foam-boosting surfactant closely related to cocamidopropyl betaine. It is generally well tolerated in rinse-off products but, like its chemical cousin, can occasionally cause contact irritation on already-compromised or very reactive skin.
Full ingredient details →Lauryl GlucosideGenerally safe
A sugar-derived, biodegradable cleansing surfactant made from coconut/palm fatty alcohol and glucose; it is markedly gentler than sulfates and is the workhorse of "sensitive skin" or fragrance-free cleansers. CIR reviewed it with other alkyl glucosides and found it safe as used when the finished product is formulated to be non-irritating.
Full ingredient details →GlycerinGenerally safe
A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.
Full ingredient details →BetaineGenerally safe
A humectant naturally derived from sugar beets that helps skin draw in and hold water; it has a long history of safe use with no meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns.
Full ingredient details →Vitamin EGenerally safe
An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.
Full ingredient details →Xanthan GumGenerally safe
Xanthan gum is a microbial-fermentation-derived polysaccharide used to thicken and stabilize textures, similarly common in food. Cosmetic panel review of this and related microbial gums found them safe as used, with no meaningful irritation signal at typical concentrations.
Full ingredient details →Below the 1% line
Citric AcidGenerally safe
Used in tiny amounts to set a product to skin-friendly pH. No concern at those levels.
Full ingredient details →Sodium ChlorideCommonly feared, low concern
Ordinary salt, used in surfactant-based products like shampoos and body washes to adjust viscosity by interacting with the surfactant micelles. It has no meaningful toxicity concern at cosmetic use levels; the main practical downside is that too much can make a formula feel less mild.
Full ingredient details →Coco-GlucosideGenerally safe
A mild non-ionic cleansing agent made from coconut fatty alcohols and plant sugars (glucose). It is widely used in sulfate-free shampoos and gentle cleansers and is one of the least irritating surfactants in common use.
Full ingredient details →FragranceWatch if sensitive
An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.
Full ingredient details →Potassium SorbateGenerally safe
A widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.
Full ingredient details →PhenoxyethanolCommonly feared, low concern
A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.
Full ingredient details →LimoneneWatch if sensitive
A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.
Full ingredient details →Note: this product hides its scent as an undisclosed “fragrance/parfum” blend, so its specific allergens are not on the label.
Lower-concern alternatives
Same category, higher PlainScore.
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern ratings are evidence-graded and cited on each ingredient page. See how we score.