Formula · 5.1

Brand · 6.2

Librederm · panthenol + aloe juice · Russia

Librederm pH-Balance neutral shampoo for sensitive scalp

Librederm pH-Balance neutral shampoo for sensitive scalp
5.1

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.6Actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “sensitive scalp” — 100 %; a broad formula across 4 purposes
  • Cleansing base0.6Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside; irritation potential of the base — 39 % of SLS
  • Tolerance0.2Rinse-off product; debatable groups: cocamide DEA, isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI) (skin test positive in 6 of 100 tested), isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • children
  • babies
  • atopic skin
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • 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
  • fragrance · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “fragrance and its allergens” group — 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
  • 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
  • daytime
  • evening
any time, can be applied often
When to expect an effect: soothing — days; barrier — 2–4 weeks; hydration — right away; calming of irritation — 1–2 weeks

Ingredients — 20 components · 2 work

What works: 2 of 20 ingredients: panthenol, aloe vera. 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: completeness for the purpose

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2; cleansing base: harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate; tolerance: rinse-off product

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; cocamide DEA — a thickener and foam booster. It is restricted: in the presence of nitrites diethanolamides can form nitrosamines, so the regulator caps secondary amines and forbids nitrosating additives; California lists it under Proposition 65.; isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI): methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone

  • 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
  • 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.
  • Cocamide DEA questions · a thickener and foam booster. It is restricted: in the presence of nitrites diethanolamides can form nitrosamines, so the regulator caps secondary amines and forbids nitrosating additives; California lists it under Proposition 65.
  • Sodium Chloride base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids label wording · an allergen (sodium (salt)) — matters when limiting salt, for example with blood pressure; the label says it is absent
  • Panthenol works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: panthenol
  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: aloe gel
  • Rosa Canina Fruit Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract base: coating, fillers · plant and algae extracts and floral waters: flavouring and marketing components — at these shares there is no proven effect on the skin; rare reactions in people allergic to that particular plant
  • Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Propylene Glycol base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • 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.
  • Glyceryl Oleate base: coating, fillers · fills the gaps between skin flakes, so the surface feels smooth
  • Citric Acid base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • Magnesium Nitrate base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone questions · preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • Magnesium Chloride base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Methylisothiazolinone questions · preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • Tetrasodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · bind hard-water metals so the formula stays stable and the foam works

Librederm pH-Balance neutral shampoo for sensitive scalp is a product whose active ingredient is panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) + aloe vera. 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: panthenol (pro-vitamin b5). There is little evidence of effect: aloe vera. The formula has 20 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); Cocamide DEA (a thickener and foam booster. It is restricted: in the presence of nitrites diethanolamides can form nitrosamines, so the regulator caps secondary amines and forbids nitrosating additives; California lists it under Proposition 65.); Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. 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), formaldehyde releasers, fragrance, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, children, babies, atopic skin. sensitive skin, dry scalp — ask a doctor. prone to contact 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 — 5.1 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles); mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside; irritation potential of the base — 39 % of sls; rinse-off product; debatable groups: cocamide dea, isothiazolinone preservatives (mit/mci) (skin test positive in 6 of 100 tested), isothiazolinone preservatives (mit/mci)). 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

  • prone to contact allergyone of the most frequent cosmetic allergens

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

Similar products

Same nutrient and the same purpose — closest by form and dose. Each has its own score by the same method, so you can see whether there is an option nearby that is more honest or simpler in composition.