TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo
Summary
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo scores 13/100 -- a conventional drugstore shampoo with a uniquely concerning surfactant booster pair: TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate. The triethanolamine (TEA) compounds carry an N-nitrosamine contamination risk, similar to but distinct from the Cocamide MEA family found in Pantene. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is the primary surfactant (1,4-dioxane contamination risk). Some export variants add DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde-releasing preservative -- formaldehyde is an IARC Group 1 known human carcinogen) and Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer (a synthetic film-former classified as a primary microplastic by ECHA). The marketed Hydrolyzed Keratin + Ceramide NG + Arginine + Lysine HCl active stack is genuine but appears well below the preservative system in concentration -- performative. Owned by Unilever.
At a glance
Key ingredients 14
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)Very Bad
Ethoxylated sulfate cleanser; carries documented 1,4-dioxane (IARC Group 2B probable human carcinogen) contamination risk from the ethoxylation manufacturing step. EWG 3-6.
See more about Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) →Cocamide MEAVery Bad
Ethanolamine surfactant booster; California Proposition 65 listed for carcinogenicity. Carries N-nitrosamine contamination risk when stacked with secondary amines.
See more about Cocamide MEA →DimethiconolVery Bad
Silicone polymer; builds up on hair and requires sulfate shampoos to remove. Environmentally persistent siloxane microplastic precursor.
See more about Dimethiconol →TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-SulfateVery Bad
Triethanolamine (TEA) compounds; carry N-nitrosamine contamination risk when stacked with secondary amines, similar to the Cocamide MEA family. TEA itself is EWG 5-6.
See more about TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate + TEA-Sulfate →PEG-45MBad
Polyethylene glycol; carries documented 1,4-dioxane contamination risk from the ethoxylation manufacturing step. Penetration enhancer.
See more about PEG-45M →PhenoxyethanolBad
Synthetic preservative; EWG 4. EU restricted in baby products; potential dermal irritant.
See more about Phenoxyethanol →Disodium EDTABad
Chelator; same penetration-enhancement and environmental-persistence concerns as Tetrasodium EDTA.
See more about Disodium EDTA →Fragrance (Parfum) + 4 disclosed allergensVery Bad
Undisclosed fragrance plus 4 itemized fragrance allergens (Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool). EU mandates disclosure of these when concentration exceeds 0.01% in rinse-off products.
See more about Fragrance (Parfum) + 4 disclosed allergens →GlycerinVery Good
Gold-standard humectant; plant-derived, EWG 1.
See more about Glycerin →Hydrolyzed KeratinVery Good
Enzymatically broken-down keratin protein fragments small enough to penetrate the hair cortex and bind to damaged sites. Genuine repair activity (Wickett 1991).
See more about Hydrolyzed Keratin →Ceramide NGGood
Skin barrier ceramide delivered topically. Genuine when at functional concentration; in this formula appears low in the INCI, likely performative.
See more about Ceramide NG →Arginine + Lysine HClGood
Amino acids; buffering and minor moisture-binding activity. Inert and well-tolerated.
See more about Arginine + Lysine HCl →Cocamidopropyl BetaineGood
Coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant; the industry-standard gentler co-surfactant in sulfate-based shampoos.
See more about Cocamidopropyl Betaine →Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideGood
Plant-derived (guar bean) cationic conditioning polymer. The cleanest commercially available cationic. EWG 1.
See more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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