Formula · 4.5

Brand · 5.7

Сульсена · selenium disulfide + salicylic acid · Ukraine

Sulsena Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Sulsena Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
4.5

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.8Actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2
  • Completeness for the purpose0.3For “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 32 %; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: nasturtium extract; below threshold: selenium sulfide, salicylic acid (bha); a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Cleansing base0.6Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), TEA-lauryl sulfate; mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 41 % of SLS; film: silicones
  • Tolerance0.2Rinse-off product; debatable groups: benzyl alcohol, isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI) (skin test positive in 6 of 100 tested), isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI), fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)
  • adults
  • childrenunder 2 — only as advised by a doctor
  • pregnancythere is little data — ask a doctor
  • colour-treated hairmay shift the shade of coloured and grey hair
  • sensitive skinstart at 0.5 %
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • dry scalpmay dry
  • dry skinmay 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
  • 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: Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing.
When:
  • when washing, rinsed off
twice a week, leave on for 2–3 minutes and rinse thoroughly
When to expect an effect: dandruff — 2–4 weeks; pores, blackheads — 4–8 weeks
What is normal: a distinctive smell, a dry feel; mild dryness and flaking in the first weeks

Ingredients — 21 component · 2 work

What works: 2 of 21 ingredients: selenium sulfide, salicylic acid. Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing.

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2; completeness for the purpose: for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 32 %; cleansing base: harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate, tea-lauryl 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; 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; benzyl alcohol; isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI): methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone

  • вода 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
  • натрий лаурет сульфат questions · the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products
  • акрилатес кополимер base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • кокамидопропилбетаины 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.
  • ПЭГ-7 глицерил кокоат base: coating, fillers · cleanse and bind water with oils; milder than the sulfate ones
  • диметиконол base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • ТЭА-додецилбензенесульфонат questions · a sulfate surfactant as a triethanolamine salt: it cleanses harshly, though slightly less so than the sodium salt. A product with it usually stings the eyes.
  • отдушка 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
  • дисульфид селена works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: selenium disulfide
  • гликоль дистеарат base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • коко-глюкозид 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.
  • глицерил олеат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • глицерил стеарат base: coating, fillers · soften, condition and carry the actives; the backbone of the texture
  • салициловая кислота works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: salicylic acid
  • лимонная кислота base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator
  • триэтиленгликоль base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • бензиловый спирт questions · a preservative and solvent permitted in the EU up to 1 %. It is also on the list of 26 fragrance allergens that must be declared separately, which matters to people allergic to fragrance.
  • пропиленгликоль base: coating, fillers · humectants and solvents — hold water and help actives dissolve
  • метилхлороизотиазолинон questions · preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • метилизотиазолинон questions · preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • натрия гидроксид base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener

Sulsena Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is a product whose active ingredient is selenium sulfide + salicylic acid (bha). 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: selenium sulfide, salicylic acid (bha). 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); 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); Benzyl Alcohol; Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. Dandruff is the Malassezia fungus plus accelerated flaking. You need an antifungal active (piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) and a mild cleansing base; results come after 2–4 weeks of regular washing. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), formaldehyde releasers, parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults. children, pregnancy, colour-treated hair, sensitive skin, atopic skin, dry scalp, dry skin — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy, prone to contact allergy — not without a doctor. Use: twice a week, leave on for 2–3 minutes and rinse thoroughly. When to expect an effect: dandruff — 2–4 weeks. Label score — 4.5 out of 10 (actives with strong evidence: 0 of 2; for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 32 %; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: nasturtium extract; below threshold: selenium sulfide, salicylic acid (bha); a narrow formula for one purpose; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles), tea-lauryl sulfate; mild surfactants: cocamidopropyl betaine, coco-glucoside, mild surfactants and emulsifiers; irritation potential of the base — 41 % of sls; film: silicones; rinse-off product; debatable groups: benzyl alcohol, isothiazolinone preservatives (mit/mci) (skin test positive in 6 of 100 tested), isothiazolinone preservatives (mit/mci), fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested)). Per the pack: for external use, avoid contact with the eyes; do not use if you are intolerant to any component. A restatement of the label, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction
  • prone to contact allergyone of the most frequent cosmetic allergens

When to stop: burning, hair shedding — stop; burning, persistent redness — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Per the pack: for external use, avoid contact with the eyes; do not use if you are intolerant to any component. 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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