Formula · 6.9

Brand · 5.7

Сульсена · selenium disulfide 2% · Ukraine

Sulsena Paste 2%

Sulsena Paste 2%
6.9

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.8Effect moderately supported
  • Completeness for the purpose0.8For “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 75 %; without salicylic acid, which lifts the flakes; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: salicylic acid (bha), nasturtium extract; a narrow formula for one purpose
  • Cleansing base0.5Harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES); irritation potential of the base — 50 % of SLS
  • Tolerance0.8Rinse-off product; debatable groups: formaldehyde releasers (skin test positive in 8 of 100 tested), 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 skinirritation possible
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • 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
  • 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: 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
What is normal: a distinctive smell, a dry feel

Ingredients — 11 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 11 ingredients: selenium sulfide. 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: effect moderately supported; completeness for the purpose: for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 75 %; cleansing base: harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate; tolerance: rinse-off product

Questions: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): sodium ceteareth 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, cinnamyl alcohol — 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; formaldehyde releasers: DMDM hydantoin

  • 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
  • цетиловый спирт base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol, emulsifier and thickener; does not dry the skin — not “alcohol” in the everyday sense; rarely clogs pores
  • стеариловый спирт base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol (C18), an emulsifier and thickener, does not dry the skin; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • натрий цетеарет сульфат questions · the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products
  • глицерин base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • калий цетеарет фосфат base: coating, fillers · an anionic emulsifier: keeps oil and water together in light creams and sunscreens; a few percent of the product, no action on the skin
  • дисульфид селена works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: selenium disulfide
  • 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
  • коричный спирт 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
  • ДМДМ гидантоин questions · preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • лимонная кислота base: coating, fillers · acidity regulator

Sulsena Paste 2% is a product whose active ingredient is selenium sulfide at a declared 2 %. The effect is moderately supported: slows fungal growth and flaking: at 1 % in shampoos it reduces dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis; 2.5 % is a prescription medicine. The formula has 11 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Sodium Ceteareth Sulfate (the main cleansing surfactant; can dry a sensitive scalp — the reason people look for «sulfate-free»; unrestricted in rinse-off products); Parfum, Cinnamyl Alcohol (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); DMDM Hydantoin. 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), isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), parabens, mineral oils and petrolatum, soap, silicones, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults. children, pregnancy, colour-treated hair, sensitive skin, atopic skin, dry scalp — ask a doctor. prone to contact allergy, fragrance 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 — 6.9 out of 10 (effect moderately supported; for “dandruff and itchy scalp” — 75 %; without salicylic acid, which lifts the flakes; nasturtium extract; could be added without conflict: salicylic acid (bha), nasturtium extract; a narrow formula for one purpose; harsh surfactants: sodium laureth sulfate (sles); irritation potential of the base — 50 % of sls; rinse-off product; debatable groups: formaldehyde releasers (skin test positive in 8 of 100 tested), 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

  • prone to contact allergya frequent allergen
  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: burning, hair shedding — 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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