Is Dove Men +Care Refreshing Clean Shampoo 400ml Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Unilever
Dove Men +Care Refreshing Clean Shampoo 400ml is one of the haircare products analyzed by Zerotox for Unilever. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fragrance, Dmdm Hydantoin affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium laureth sulfate as a surfactant and methylisothiazolinone as a preservative, raising concerns about synthetic additives and potential irritants. Overall, the product has a mix of good and problematic ingredients.
Main concern
Sodium laureth sulfate is a strong surfactant that may cause irritation for sensitive scalps.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains glycerin, a humectant that helps retain moisture in hair, contributing to hydration.
- Menthol provides a cooling sensation, enhancing the refreshing feel of the shampoo.
Concerns
- Sodium laureth sulfate is a strong surfactant that may cause irritation for sensitive scalps.
- Methylisothiazolinone is a synthetic preservative linked to allergic reactions and skin irritation.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive scalp or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid sulfates
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this haircare.
-
Is Water safe in this haircare?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as the primary solvent in this shampoo, facilitating the distribution of other ingredients.
Role in formula: base
Original: AQUA
-
Is Sodium Laureth Sulfate safe in this haircare?
Bad
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is used here as surfactant. Sodium laureth sulfate is a strong cleansing agent that effectively removes dirt but may irritate sensitive skin.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
-
Is Cocamidopropyl Betaine safe in this haircare?
Medium
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is used here as surfactant. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a milder surfactant derived from coconut oil, providing foam and reducing irritation from harsher surfactants.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
-
Is Fragrance safe in this haircare?
Bad
Fragrance is used here as fragrance. Fragrance can enhance the sensory experience but may cause allergic reactions or irritation in sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: PARFUM
-
Is Sodium Chloride safe in this haircare?
Medium
Sodium Chloride is used here as thickener. Sodium chloride is used to adjust the viscosity of the shampoo, but excessive use can lead to dryness.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: SODIUM CHLORIDE
-
Is Glycerin safe in this haircare?
Good
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin attracts moisture to the hair, helping to maintain hydration and improve texture.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: GLYCERIN
-
Is Menthol safe in this haircare?
Good
Menthol is used here as flavor. Menthol provides a cooling effect, enhancing the refreshing sensation of the shampoo during use.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: MENTHOL
-
Is Disodium Edta safe in this haircare?
Medium
Disodium Edta is used here as chelating_agent. Disodium EDTA helps to stabilize the formulation by binding metal ions, but it is a synthetic ingredient.
Role in formula: chelating_agent
Original: DISODIUM EDTA
-
Is Polyquaternium 10 safe in this haircare?
Medium
Polyquaternium 10 is used here as conditioning_agent. Polyquaternium-10 acts as a conditioning agent, improving hair manageability but may build up over time.
Role in formula: conditioning_agent
Original: POLYQUATERNIUM-10
-
Is Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride safe in this haircare?
Medium
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride is used here as conditioning_agent. This ingredient provides conditioning benefits, enhancing hair softness and reducing static.
Role in formula: conditioning_agent
Original: GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
Read the full ingredient profile for Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
-
Is Dmdm Hydantoin safe in this haircare?
Bad
Dmdm Hydantoin is used here as preservative. DMDM hydantoin is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative that can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: DMDM HYDANTOIN
-
Is Peg 45m safe in this haircare?
Medium
Peg 45m is used here as thickener. PEG-45M is used to improve texture and stability but is a synthetic polymer with potential concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: PEG-45M
-
Is Caffeine safe in this haircare?
Medium
Caffeine is used here as active. Caffeine is included for its stimulating properties, which may enhance scalp circulation but lacks strong evidence for efficacy in hair care.
Role in formula: active
Original: CAFFEINE
-
Is Methylchloroisothiazolinone safe in this haircare?
Bad
Methylchloroisothiazolinone is used here as preservative. This synthetic preservative is effective against bacteria but is known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE
Read the full ingredient profile for Methylchloroisothiazolinone
-
Is Methylisothiazolinone safe in this haircare?
Bad
Methylisothiazolinone is used here as preservative. Similar to methylchloroisothiazolinone, this preservative is effective but raises safety concerns due to potential skin irritation.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE
-
Is Ci 42090 safe in this haircare?
Bad
Ci 42090 is used here as colorant. CI 42090 is a synthetic colorant that may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: CI 42090
-
Is Ci 17200 safe in this haircare?
Bad
Ci 17200 is used here as colorant. CI 17200 is another synthetic colorant that can pose risks of irritation and allergic reactions.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: CI 17200
-
Is Butylphenyl Methylpropional safe in this haircare?
Bad
Butylphenyl Methylpropional is used here as fragrance. This synthetic fragrance component is associated with potential allergens and may cause skin irritation.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Read the full ingredient profile for Butylphenyl Methylpropional
-
Is Coumarin safe in this haircare?
Bad
Coumarin is used here as fragrance. Coumarin is a fragrance ingredient that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Coumarin
-
Is Limonene safe in this haircare?
Bad
Limonene is used here as fragrance. Limonene is a fragrance component that can oxidize and lead to skin irritation in some users.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Limonene
-
Is Linalool safe in this haircare?
Bad
Linalool is used here as fragrance. Linalool is a naturally occurring fragrance compound that can cause allergic reactions upon oxidation.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Linalool
-
Is Sodium Hydroxide safe in this haircare?
Medium
Sodium Hydroxide is used here as ph_adjuster. Sodium hydroxide is used to adjust the pH of the shampoo, but it can be harsh in high concentrations.
Role in formula: pH_adjuster
Original: SODIUM HYDROXIDE
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this haircare?
Good
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used to adjust pH and can act as a natural preservative, contributing to product stability.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: CITRIC ACID
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 4281317
More from this brand: Unilever products in Zerotox
Similar products: haircare in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.