Formula · 7.0

Brand · 7.1

Garnier · marula and shea oils + hydrolysed proteins · Russia

Garnier Fructis “SOS Repair” repairing mask for damaged hair

Garnier Fructis “SOS Repair” repairing mask for damaged hair
7.0

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “dry and damaged hair” — 100 %; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Tolerance0.9Rinse-off product; debatable groups: fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • dry skin
  • colour-treated hair
  • children
  • babies
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • acne-pronemay clog pores
  • gluten-freethis is a wheat protein — if you avoid wheat, choose another protein
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
  • 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: 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
on dry or damp ends, leave-in
When to expect an effect: shine, softness — immediately; no repair to expect; dryness — immediately; barrier — 2–4 weeks; smoothness — immediately, until the next wash
What is normal: weigh fine hair down when overused

Ingredients — 21 component · 3 work

What works: 3 of 21 ingredients: marula oil, shea butter, hydrolysed wheat protein. 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: actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: linalool, coumarin, limonene, 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

  • Aqua / Water 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
  • Cetearyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty-alcohol blend (C16–C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; paired with ceteareth-20 — 4 of 5; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Isopropyl Myristate base: coating, fillers · emollient/base; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Cetyl Esters base: coating, fillers · a wax-ester blend (spermaceti substitute), gives creams body; does not clog pores
  • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil base: coating, fillers · a light emollient oil rich in linoleic acid (in tablets — a coating component); does not clog pores
  • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: seed oil
  • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter / Shea Butter works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: butter
  • Arginine base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Hydrolyzed Corn Protein base: coating, fillers · proteins cut into short pieces: they settle on hair and skin as a film and make hair smooth and denser to the touch.
  • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein base: coating, fillers · proteins cut into short pieces: they settle on hair and skin as a film and make hair smooth and denser to the touch.
  • Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: wheat protein hydrolysate
  • Caprylyl Glycol base: coating, fillers · a humectant that also holds bacteria back, which is why it often replaces part of the preservative.
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Lactic Acid base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Tartaric Acid base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • 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.
  • Benzoic Acid base: coating, fillers · protect the product from bacteria and mould; used within the EU-permitted concentrations
  • 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
  • Coumarin 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
  • 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
  • Parfum / Fragrance 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

Garnier Fructis “SOS Repair” repairing mask for damaged hair is a product whose active ingredient is marula oil + shea butter + hydrolysed wheat protein. 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: marula oil, shea butter, hydrolysed wheat protein. The formula has 21 ingredients, 3 of which do the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Linalool, Coumarin, Limonene, Parfum / 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). 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), 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, dry skin, colour-treated hair, children, babies. sensitive skin, atopic skin, acne-prone, gluten-free — ask a doctor. wheat allergy, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: on dry or damp ends, leave-in. When to expect an effect: shine, softness — immediately; no repair to expect. Label score — 7.0 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 0 of 3; 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

  • wheat allergyhives and anaphylaxis to hydrolysed wheat in cosmetics are described
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching, rash, swollen lips or eyelids — stop and see a doctor

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

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