Formula · 7.0

Brand · 7.0

L’Oréal Professionnel · vitamin E + glycine · Spain

L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox mask for coloured hair

L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox mask for coloured hair
7.0

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Little evidence of effect
  • Completeness for the purpose1.0For “colour protection for dyed hair” — 100 %; no UV filter — though in a rinse-off product it barely works anyway; pomegranate extract; could be added without conflict: benzophenone-4 (sulisobenzone), pomegranate extract; a formula with one main 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
  • 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.
  • 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: Dye is washed out by water and cleansing surfactants rather than “faded”: colour loss is slowed by a mild base, acidic pH and a film on the hair — silicones or hydrolysed proteins that smooth the cuticle. A UV filter in a rinse-off shampoo barely stays on the hair, so its contribution is weak.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening
When to expect an effect: gives no visible effect alone — protects the formula's oils

Ingredients — 19 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 19 ingredients: vitamin e. Dye is washed out by water and cleansing surfactants rather than “faded”: colour loss is slowed by a mild base, acidic pH and a film on the hair — silicones or hydrolysed proteins that smooth the cuticle. A UV filter in a rinse-off shampoo barely stays on the hair, so its contribution is weak.

Strengths: completeness for the purpose, tolerance

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: little evidence of effect

Questions: fragrance and its allergens: fragrance, limonene, hexyl cinnamal, linalool, citral, geraniol — 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
  • Amodimethicone base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Behentrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Cetyl Esters base: coating, fillers · a wax-ester blend (spermaceti substitute), gives creams body; does not clog pores
  • 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
  • Isopropyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a volatile solvent alcohol, evaporates without residue; does not clog pores
  • Trideceth-6 base: coating, fillers · keeps the water and oil parts from separating
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Cetrimonium Chloride base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • Hexyl Cinnamal 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
  • 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
  • Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride base: coating, fillers · holds back the growth of bacteria and fungi
  • Citral 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
  • Geraniol 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
  • Glycine base: coating, fillers · amino acids, lipids and sugars akin to the skin’s own components — support for its barrier
  • Tocopherol works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: tocopherol (in cosmetics)
  • Polyquaternium-7 base: coating, fillers · a conditioning polymer: it removes static, makes combing easier and softens the foam.
  • 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 %.

L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox mask for coloured hair is a product whose active ingredient is vitamin e. The concentration is not declared; the active sits after the 1 % line, but works at small shares. There is little evidence of effect: an antioxidant: protects the formula oils from going rancid; alone changes skin little. The formula has 19 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Parfum / Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol (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). Dye is washed out by water and cleansing surfactants rather than “faded”: colour loss is slowed by a mild base, acidic pH and a film on the hair — silicones or hydrolysed proteins that smooth the cuticle. A UV filter in a rinse-off shampoo barely stays on the hair, so its contribution is weak. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, dry skin. sensitive skin, atopic skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening. When to expect an effect: gives no visible effect alone — protects the formula's oils. Label score — 7.0 out of 10 (little evidence of effect; 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

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: rarely — contact allergy: rash, itching — stop

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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