Formula · 7.8

Brand · 7.8

Dove · gluconolactone + trehalose · Russia

Dove “Intensive Repair” shampoo for damaged hair

Dove “Intensive Repair” shampoo for damaged hair
7.8

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.8Effect moderately supported
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “dry and damaged hair” — 100 %; without coconut oil — the only oil proven to reduce protein loss; could be added without conflict: coconut oil; a broad formula across 4 purposes
  • Cleansing base0.6Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 42 % of SLS; film: silicones
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • acne-prone
  • dry skin
  • pregnancyfew safety data — ask a doctor
  • sensitive skinrare contact allergy to impurities
  • rosaceatolerated better than AHAs, but start low
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • dry scalpmay dry
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • parabens · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “parabens” group — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • mineral oils and petrolatum · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “petrolatum and mineral oils” group — purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • evening
in the evening, daily is fine; SPF in the daytime
When to expect an effect: smoothness, hydration — 2–4 weeks; acne — 8–12
What is normal: mild tingling in the first days

Ingredients — 26 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 26 ingredients: gluconolactone. Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label.

Strengths: completeness for the purpose, tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: effect moderately supported; cleansing base: harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate

Questions: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): sodium laureth sulfate — the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products; fragrance and its allergens: fragrance, hexyl cinnamal, limonene, linalool — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

  • Aqua base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate questions · the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products
  • Sodium Chloride base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine base: coating, fillers · a mild amphoteric surfactant: it builds dense foam and softens the harsh sulfates next to it. It occasionally causes contact allergy, and the culprit is a manufacturing impurity rather than the ingredient itself.
  • Dimethiconol base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Gluconolactone works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: gluconolactone (PHA)
  • PEG-45M base: coating, fillers · coating glazing agent
  • Sodium Sulfate label wording · an allergen (sodium (salt)) — matters when limiting salt, for example with blood pressure; the label says it is absent
  • Trehalose base: coating, fillers · a sugar humectant: it holds water in the skin and protects cell membranes when it dries out.
  • Carbomer base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Cocamide MEA base: coating, fillers · a thickener and foam booster from coconut oil: it barely cleanses on its own, it makes the foam denser.
  • Disodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • Glycol Distearate base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Mica base: coating, fillers · mineral flakes that give shimmer and softly scatter light. They do not affect how the product works.
  • Phenoxyethanol base: coating, fillers · the most widespread cosmetic preservative: it keeps the product sterile. Permitted in the EU up to 1 %, recognised as safe at that level.
  • PPG-8 base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • Sodium Benzoate base: coating, fillers · a preservative both in cosmetics and in supplements: a salt of benzoic acid that works in an acidic medium. Permitted as food additive E211 and in cosmetics up to 0.5 %.
  • Sodium Hydroxide base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Parfum questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Hexyl Cinnamal questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • Limonene questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Linalool questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

Dove “Intensive Repair” shampoo for damaged hair is a product whose active ingredient is gluconolactone (pha). The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. The effect is moderately supported: 8–14 %: renews skin and holds moisture, irritates less than glycolic; for acne 14 % is comparable to 5 % benzoyl peroxide — RCT. The formula has 26 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products); Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works). Damaged hair is helped on two fronts: oils that penetrate the shaft (only coconut oil is proven) and a film on the outside — silicones, panthenol, hydrolysed proteins. One from each front is enough; “collagen” and “biotin” in a shampoo work only on the label. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, acne-prone, dry skin. pregnancy, sensitive skin, rosacea, atopic skin, dry scalp — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: in the evening, daily is fine; SPF in the daytime. When to expect an effect: smoothness, hydration — 2–4 weeks; acne — 8–12. Label score — 7.8 out of 10 (effect moderately supported; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 42 % of sls; film: silicones; rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: avoid contact with eyes; rinse thoroughly with water on contact. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: burning, persistent redness — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: avoid contact with eyes; rinse thoroughly with water on contact. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Is this product right for your hair?

The score describes the formula, not your hair: a sulfate shampoo suits an oily scalp and fails a dry, sensitive one. Tell us about your hair, scalp and the problem — shedding, dandruff, oiliness, dryness — and we will build a routine and say whether this product suits you.

Hair care matchDecode my tests