Formula · 5.3

Brand · 5.7

Ducray · peptide + biotin · France

Ducray Anti-Hair-Loss and Growth Lotion

Ducray Anti-Hair-Loss and Growth Lotion
5.3

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4No proven effect when applied: biotin (vitamin b7), tocopheryl nicotinate (vitamin e + vitamin b3)
  • Completeness for the purpose0.5For “hair shedding (topical)” — 53 %; niacinamide (vitamin b3); could be added without conflict: niacinamide (vitamin b3); a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Tolerance0.8Debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • children
  • babies
  • colour-treated hair
  • sensitive scalpnicotinic acid can cause flushing and redness
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • dry skinmay dry
Free from:
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • 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.
  • silicones · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “silicones” group — form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • 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: Topical products against shedding work weakly: only minoxidil is proven (a medicine we do not score); among cosmetics rosemary oil has moderate data, caffeine weak. The cause of shedding is found by tests: iron, thyroid, vitamin D.
When:
  • leave-on
  • evening
into the scalp at night, every day
When to expect an effect: if there is an effect, it shows no earlier than 3–6 months; no effect on growth or shedding should be expected; soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks; do not expect a noticeable effect on shedding — there are no measurements
What is normal: hair may look oilier at the roots; slight warmth or redness of the scalp after applying

Ingredients — 16 components · 4 work

What works: 4 of 16 ingredients: hair peptides, biotin, panthenol and 1 more. Topical products against shedding work weakly: only minoxidil is proven (a medicine we do not score); among cosmetics rosemary oil has moderate data, caffeine weak. The cause of shedding is found by tests: iron, thyroid, vitamin D.

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: no proven effect when applied: biotin, tocopheryl nicotinate; completeness for the purpose: for “hair shedding” — 53 %; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens

Questions: denatured alcohol — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores; fragrance and its allergens: fragrance — 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

  • WATER (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
  • ALCOHOL DENAT questions · evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • HEXYLENE GLYCOL base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • PENTYLENE GLYCOL base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE base: coating, fillers · keeps the water and oil parts from separating
  • ACETYL TETRAPEPTIDE-2 works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: acetyl tetrapeptide-2
  • BIOTIN works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: biotin
  • CARAMEL base: coating, fillers · give the product its colour; do not affect how it works
  • CREATINE base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • DEXTRAN base: coating, fillers · makes the product thicker or thinner
  • FRAGRANCE (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
  • PANTHENOL works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: panthenol
  • PANTOLACTONE base: coating, fillers · draws water in and holds it in the upper layer of the skin
  • PYRIDOXINE HCL base: coating, fillers · vitamin B6 in a trace dose; applied topically it does not reach the hair or follicle — a label line that does not change how the product works
  • TETRAMETHYL ACETYLOCTAHYDRONAPHTHALENES base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • TOCOPHERYL NICOTINATE works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: nicotinate
  • TRIMETHYLBENZENEPROPANOL base: coating, fillers · gives the product its scent

Ducray Anti-Hair-Loss and Growth Lotion is a product whose active ingredient is hair peptides + biotin (vitamin b7) + panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) + tocopheryl nicotinate (vitamin e + vitamin b3). The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. There is little evidence of effect: hair peptides. There is no evidence of effect: biotin (vitamin b7), tocopheryl nicotinate (vitamin e + vitamin b3). The effect is moderately supported: panthenol (pro-vitamin b5). The formula has 16 ingredients, 4 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: ALCOHOL DENAT (evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores); FRAGRANCE (PARFUM (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). Topical products against shedding work weakly: only minoxidil is proven (a medicine we do not score); among cosmetics rosemary oil has moderate data, caffeine weak. The cause of shedding is found by tests: iron, thyroid, vitamin D. By the list, no sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, children, babies, colour-treated hair. sensitive scalp, atopic skin, dry skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: into the scalp at night, every day. When to expect an effect: if there is an effect, it shows no earlier than 3–6 months. Label score — 5.3 out of 10 (no proven effect when applied: biotin (vitamin b7), tocopheryl nicotinate (vitamin e + vitamin b3); for “hair shedding (topical)” — 53 %; niacinamide (vitamin b3); could be added without conflict: niacinamide (vitamin b3); a narrow formula for one purpose; debatable ingredient groups: denatured alcohol, fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: for external use, apply to the scalp, avoid contact with the eyes. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching, redness — stop; persistent redness, itching or burning — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: for external use, apply to the scalp, avoid contact with the eyes. 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

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