Formula · 6.0

Brand · 5.7

Ducray · piroctone olamine + panthenol · France

Ducray Gentle Balancing Shampoo

Ducray Gentle Balancing Shampoo
6.0

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.9Actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2
  • Completeness for the purpose0.2For “oily scalp” — 19 %; rice starch; nettle extract; glycolic acid; could be added without conflict: rice starch, nettle extract, glycolic acid; below threshold: piroctone olamine; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Cleansing base0.6Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); mild surfactants: coco-betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 39 % of SLS
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • children
  • babies
  • for dandruff
  • oily scalp
  • colour-treated hair
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • 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.
  • 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: An oily scalp needs either absorbents (dry shampoo) or sebum-reducing actives (zinc PCA, salicylic acid) and a cleansing base without heavy films.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • morning
  • daytime
  • evening
any time, can be applied often
When to expect an effect: soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks; dandruff — 2–4 weeks of regular use

Ingredients — 21 component · 2 work

What works: 2 of 21 ingredients: panthenol, piroctone olamine. An oily scalp needs either absorbents (dry shampoo) or sebum-reducing actives (zinc PCA, salicylic acid) and a cleansing base without heavy films.

Strengths: actives and evidence, tolerance

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “oily scalp” — 19 %; 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 — 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
  • 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
  • GLYCINE base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • GLYCERIN base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • COCO-BETAINE base: coating, fillers · an amphoteric surfactant from coconut oil: it cleanses and stabilises foam. Slightly harsher than cocamidopropyl betaine, yet clearly milder than the sulfates.
  • ACRYLATES COPOLYMER base: coating, fillers · an ingredient from the European cosmetic ingredient inventory; what exactly it does in this product is not described here yet
  • METHYL GLUCETH-20 base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • AMYL SALICYLATE base: coating, fillers · softens the skin and helps it hold water — the most common role in creams
  • CITRIC ACID base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • 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
  • GLYCOL PALMITATE base: coating, fillers · keeps the water and oil parts from separating
  • GLYCOL STEARATE base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • HEXAMETHYLINDANOPYRAN base: coating, fillers · gives the product its scent
  • HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • 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
  • 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.
  • PIROCTONE OLAMINE works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: piroctone olamine
  • SODIUM HYDROXIDE base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works
  • ZINC GLYCINATE base: coating, fillers · keeps the acidity of the product within the right range

Ducray Gentle Balancing Shampoo is a product whose active ingredient is panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) + piroctone olamine. The concentration is not declared and the active sits after the 1 % line — more for the label than for the effect. The effect is moderately supported: panthenol (pro-vitamin b5). The effect is supported by studies: piroctone olamine. The formula has 21 ingredients, 2 of which do 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); 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). An oily scalp needs either absorbents (dry shampoo) or sebum-reducing actives (zinc PCA, salicylic acid) and a cleansing base without heavy films. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), 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, for dandruff, oily scalp, colour-treated hair. sensitive skin, atopic skin, dry scalp — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: any time, can be applied often. When to expect an effect: soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks. Label score — 6.0 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 1 of 2; for “oily scalp” — 19 %; rice starch; nettle extract; glycolic acid; could be added without conflict: rice starch, nettle extract, glycolic acid; below threshold: piroctone olamine; a narrow formula for one purpose; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles); mild surfactants: coco-betaine, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 39 % of sls; rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: for external use, 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, rash — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: for external use, 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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