Formula · 6.2

Brand · 5.9

Klorane · calendula extract · France

Klorane Gentle Baby Shampoo with Calendula

Klorane Gentle Baby Shampoo with Calendula
6.2

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Little evidence of effect
  • Completeness for the purpose0.5For “sensitive scalp” — 53 %; a broad formula across 3 purposes
  • Cleansing base0.8Mild surfactants: coco-glucoside, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 19 % 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
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
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: A sensitive scalp needs two things: a mild cleansing base without harsh sulfates and fragrance, and a soothing ingredient — panthenol, allantoin or bisabolol. Itching and tightness ease within 1–2 weeks; if not, the cause is the skin (dermatitis, psoriasis), not the shampoo, and a doctor is needed.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening
When to expect an effect: soothing — days; no notable healing to expect

Ingredients — 21 component · 1 works

What works: 1 of 21 ingredients: calendula extract. A sensitive scalp needs two things: a mild cleansing base without harsh sulfates and fragrance, and a soothing ingredient — panthenol, allantoin or bisabolol. Itching and tightness ease within 1–2 weeks; if not, the cause is the skin (dermatitis, psoriasis), not the shampoo, and a doctor is needed.

Strengths: tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: little evidence of effect; completeness for the purpose: for “sensitive scalp” — 53 %; cleansing base: mild surfactants: coco-glucoside, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, mild surfactants and emulsifiers

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: fragrance, linalyl acetate — 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
  • GLYCERIN* base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • CETEARETH-60 MYRISTYL GLYCOL base: coating, fillers · keeps the water and oil parts from separating
  • COCO-GLUCOSIDE* base: coating, fillers · a sugar surfactant made from coconut oil and glucose: it cleanses gently with modest foam. A common base for baby and sulfate-free shampoos.
  • SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE base: coating, fillers · an amphoteric surfactant: gentle cleansing and stable foam, a usual partner to the sugar surfactants.
  • ZINC COCETH SULFATE base: coating, fillers · washes oil and dirt off skin or hair
  • POLYSORBATE 20 base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: flower extract
  • CITRIC ACID* base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • DISODIUM LAURETH SULFOSUCCINATE base: coating, fillers · a mild anionic surfactant: it foams almost like the sulfates but is tolerated far better. Common in baby products.
  • 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
  • GLYCERYL OLEATE* base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL)* base: coating, fillers · a light emollient oil rich in linoleic acid (in tablets — a coating component); does not clog pores
  • HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE GLYCERIDES CITRATE* base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • ISOLEUCINE* base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • LINALYL ACETATE 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
  • POLYSORBATE 80 base: coating, fillers · emulsifier in the coating; in cosmetics — a solubiliser; does not clog pores
  • PROPYLENE GLYCOL 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
  • TOCOPHEROL* base: coating, fillers · vitamin E at hundredths of a percent: keeps the oils of the formula (a cream or a capsule fill) from going rancid; at that share it protects the product, it is not vitamin E as an active
  • TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works

Klorane Gentle Baby Shampoo with Calendula is a product whose active ingredient is calendula extract. 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: soothes and aids healing in small studies; few rigorous RCTs. The formula has 21 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: FRAGRANCE (PARFUM, LINALYL ACETATE (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). A sensitive scalp needs two things: a mild cleansing base without harsh sulfates and fragrance, and a soothing ingredient — panthenol, allantoin or bisabolol. Itching and tightness ease within 1–2 weeks; if not, the cause is the skin (dermatitis, psoriasis), not the shampoo, and a doctor is needed. 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, children. sensitive skin, atopic skin — ask a doctor. Asteraceae allergy, fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening. When to expect an effect: soothing — days; no notable healing to expect. Label score — 6.2 out of 10 (little evidence of effect; for “sensitive scalp” — 53 %; a broad formula across 3 purposes; mild surfactants: coco-glucoside, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 19 % 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

  • Asteraceae allergychamomile, ragweed, calendula
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: itching or rash with Asteraceae allergy — 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