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Brand owned by L'Oréal (France) · about the brand
Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 5.0 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This shampoo uses Sodium Laureth Sulfate as its primary cleansing agent, which is known to cause irritation for individuals with sensitive skin. The product also contains 'Fragrance' and several declared fragrance allergens like Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, and Hexyl Cinnamal, which are common sensitizers for those with fragrance allergies or contact dermatitis. While it is a rinse-off product, reducing exposure time, these ingredients are still present. The formulation includes silicones like Dimethicone and Amodimethicone, which can lead to build-up over time, potentially weighing down hair. Preservatives such as Sodium Benzoate and Phenoxyethanol are present, with Sodium Benzoate having a known interaction with vitamin C to form benzene, though this is less of a concern in a topical, rinse-off product. Salicylic Acid is included, which has restrictions for use on children under 3 and during pregnancy, though its concentration and rinse-off nature mitigate some risk. Overall, it's an average formulation with common irritants and allergens that may not suit those with sensitive skin or specific sensitivities.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Contains irritating surfactant and multiple fragrance allergens
This shampoo contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a common surfactant that can irritate sensitive skin. It also includes 'Fragrance' along with several individually declared fragrance allergens such as Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, and Hexyl Cinnamal, which are known sensitizers for people with fragrance allergies. While it's a rinse-off product, reducing the duration of exposure, these ingredients may still pose a risk for sensitive individuals.
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- Ingredients you avoid. Sulphates, parabens, silicones, fragrance, drying alcohol, PEGs and more.
- Sensitivities. Sensitive skin, hormonal considerations, pregnancy.
- Skin and hair goals. Acne, dryness, ageing, hair fall, dandruff: what the label declares for each.
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Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for haircare. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Why the score is capped
Primary surfactant with recognised irritation potential (EU SCCS)
Rule PC-CAP-05
High load of declared fragrance allergens (EU-listed)
Rule PC-CAP-03
What's good
Includes conditioning agents like Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride for hair manageability.
Contains multiple pH adjusters to maintain product stability and skin compatibility.
Watch out for
The presence of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine may cause irritation for individuals with sensitive skin or known allergies to these surfactants.
The product contains 'Fragrance' and several declared fragrance allergens, which are common causes of contact dermatitis and allergic reactions.
Silicones like Dimethicone and Amodimethicone can lead to product build-up on hair over time, potentially making hair feel heavy or dull.
Salicylic Acid is present, which requires caution for use on young children and during pregnancy, even in a rinse-off product.
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Sodium Benzoate (E211)
Benzoates are permitted preservatives with an established acceptable daily intake. Two documented concerns: in acidic drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) they can slowly form small amounts of benzene, especially with heat and light (US FDA beverage survey, 2006); and sodium benzoate was one of the additives in the Southampton study mixtures associated with hyperactivity in children. It can also trigger reactions in some people with asthma or urticaria.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA re-evaluation of benzoic acid and benzoates (2016); US FDA benzene-in-beverages survey (2006); McCann et al., Lancet 2007
Sodium Benzoate: regulation, sources and other products →Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLES is a cleansing agent that is milder than SLS but can still irritate very sensitive or compromised skin. Separately, because it is made by ethoxylation, it may carry a residue of 1,4-dioxane, which IARC classifies as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The ingredient list cannot show whether any is present or how much. The EU SCCS considers 1,4-dioxane at or below 10 ppm in a finished cosmetic to be safe, and manufacturers reduce it by vacuum stripping.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FDA; EU SCCS
Sodium Laureth Sulfate: regulation, sources and other products →Fragrance Allergens (EU-listed)
These are individual fragrance components that are known contact allergens. EU rules require them to be named on the label when present above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off), because "parfum" alone would hide them. Limonene and linalool are especially common and become more allergenic as they oxidise on exposure to air. This is a risk for people who are sensitised, not a general-population hazard.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 2023/1545 (extended fragrance-allergen labelling); SCCS opinions on fragrance allergens
Fragrance Allergens (EU-listed): regulation, sources and other products →Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is the most widely used paraben-free preservative. The EU limits it to 1% in cosmetics (SCCS has confirmed this is safe for adults), and the French regulator ANSM advised in 2012 against leave-on products containing it for the nappy area of children under three and recommended a lower concentration for them. It can irritate sensitive skin.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex V (max 1.0%); SCCS opinion SCCS/1575/16; ANSM recommendation (2012)
Phenoxyethanol: regulation, sources and other products →Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic acne and dandruff active. EU rules cap it (3% in leave-on products) and bar it from leave-on products for children under three years except shampoos, because it is absorbed through the skin and is chemically related to aspirin. Dermatologists commonly advise limiting high-strength use in pregnancy.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III (conditions of use); SCCS opinion on salicylic acid
Salicylic Acid: regulation, sources and other products →Fragrance
"Fragrance" or "parfum" is a catch-all term that can conceal a blend of hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, including known allergens, sensitisers, and potential endocrine disruptors. The EU now mandates disclosure of 82 specific fragrance allergens. People with fragrance sensitivity, asthma, or contact dermatitis should prefer fragrance-free products.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 2023/1545; IFRA
Fragrance: regulation, sources and other products →Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl betaine is the usual "gentle" co-surfactant in shampoos, face washes and baby washes. It was named Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society in 2004; the reactions are attributed mainly to impurities (amidoamine, DMAPA) and are uncommon, but it is a common cause of surfactant allergy in people with eczema.
Peer-reviewed research Source: American Contact Dermatitis Society - Allergen of the Year 2004; contact-dermatitis literature
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: regulation, sources and other products →Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)
PEG ingredients are made by ethoxylation, which can leave traces of ethylene oxide (IARC Group 1) and 1,4-dioxane (IARC Group 2B) unless removed. Good manufacturing removes them, so the ingredient itself is not a hazard, but the label cannot tell you whether it was done well. PEGs should not be applied to broken skin.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 100F (ethylene oxide) and Vol. 71 (1,4-dioxane); Cosmetic Ingredient Review
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs): regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a surfactant known to cause skin irritation, especially for sensitive skin. It may also contain trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane, an IARC Group 2B possible carcinogen, as a manufacturing impurity, though levels are typically controlled.
Contains 'Fragrance' along with multiple declared fragrance allergens (Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal), which are common sensitizers and can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
Contains Phenoxyethanol, a preservative for which French regulators advise caution for use on children under 3 years old.
Contains Salicylic Acid, an active ingredient not recommended for leave-on use on children under 3 and for which caution is advised during pregnancy.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine, a mild surfactant, is a recognized contact allergen, often due to manufacturing impurities.
Combined Effects interactions
While Sodium Benzoate can form benzene in the presence of Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid is not Vitamin C. However, both are mild irritants and their combined presence could theoretically increase the potential for irritation in highly sensitive individuals, though this is less likely in a rinse-off product.
Claim check
1 claim not supported by label dataFront-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
This is a comparative benefit claim that cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list or other label information without a reference point and methodology.
The claim 'EXTRA GLOSS' is a subjective descriptor and cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list or other label information.
Glycolic Acid is listed in the ingredients, but the label does not state the 3% concentration, so the strength cannot be confirmed.
These are subjective benefit claims that cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list or other label information.
This indicates the target hair type for the product, which is a descriptive claim and cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list.
Glycolic Acid is listed in the ingredients.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
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1.
WaterAQUA
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2.
Sodium Laureth SulfateSODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
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3.
Glycol DistearateGLYCOL DISTEARATE
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4.
Sodium ChlorideSODIUM CHLORIDE
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5.
Cocamidopropyl BetaineCOCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
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6.
DimethiconeDIMETHICONE
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7.
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideGUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
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8.
Cocamide MeaCOCAMIDE MEA
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9.
Coco-BetaineCOCO-BETAINE
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10.
Sodium BenzoateSODIUM BENZOATE
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11.
Sodium HydroxideSODIUM HYDROXIDE
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12.
HydroxycitronellalHYDROXYCITRONELLAL
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13.
Steareth-6STEARETH-6
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14.
PhenoxyethanolPHENOXYETHANOL
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15.
Acetic AcidACETIC ACID
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16.
PEG-100 StearatePEG-100 STEARATE
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17.
Trideceth-10TRIDECETH-10
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18.
Salicylic AcidSALICYLIC ACID
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19.
LimoneneLIMONENE
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20.
Fumaric AcidFUMARIC ACID
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21.
LinaloolLINALOOL
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22.
AmodimethiconeAMODIMETHICONE
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23.
CarbomerCARBOMER
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24.
Citric AcidCITRIC ACID
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25.
Hexylene GlycolHEXYLENE GLYCOL
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26.
Hexyl CinnamalHEXYL CINNAMAL
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27.
Glycolic AcidGLYCOLIC ACID
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28.
Fragrance undisclosed fragrancePARFUM / FRAGRANCE
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
Fragrance allergens are substances EU cosmetics rules require to be named on the label (such as Limonene and Linalool). Fragrant botanicals such as essential oils are grouped with them because they can naturally contain such substances, but they are not on that list. They matter mainly for people with fragrance allergies or already-sensitive skin — not a general-population safety issue. Each named allergen takes a small deduction from the ingredient score, and a high count can cap it; fragrant botanicals take none. Naming them on the label is a transparency positive.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
Compare with other shampoo products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
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What are the ingredients in Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo?
The label of Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo lists 28 ingredients, in label order: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxycitronellal, Steareth-6, Phenoxyethanol, Acetic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Trideceth-10, Salicylic Acid, Limonene, Fumaric Acid, Linalool, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glycolic Acid, Fragrance. Flagged by the analysis: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Fragrance.
Is Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo safe to use?
Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo scores 5.0/10 on Decode Label (Moderate). This shampoo contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a common surfactant that can irritate sensitive skin. It also includes 'Fragrance' along with several individually declared fragrance allergens such as Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, and Hexyl Cinnamal, which are known sensitizers for people with fragrance allergies. While it's a rinse-off product, reducing the duration of exposure, these ingredients may still pose a risk for sensitive individuals.
Why does Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo score 5.0/10?
Flagged in the score: The presence of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine may cause irritation for individuals with sensitive skin or known allergies to these surfactants. The product contains 'Fragrance' and several declared fragrance allergens, which are common causes of contact dermatitis and allergic reactions. Also noted: Silicones like Dimethicone and Amodimethicone can lead to product build-up on hair over time, potentially making hair feel heavy or dull.
Who should avoid Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Sensitive skin; Fragrance allergy; Contact dermatitis; Avoiding sulfates; Pregnancy (due to Salicylic Acid).
Does Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo contain allergens?
Yes — the label lists 4 fragrance allergens: Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool and Hexyl Cinnamal. These matter mainly if you have sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy.
Does Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo contain fragrance?
Yes — the ingredient list includes Fragrance. Fragrance is declared as a single ingredient, so the individual scent chemicals in it are not named; the label does separately list 4 fragrance allergens (Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool and Hexyl Cinnamal). This matters mainly if you have sensitive skin or a known fragrance allergy.
Are the claims on the Glycolic Gloss Extra Gloss Shampoo pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 6 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "3x more gloss*" — misleading. "EXTRA GLOSS SHAMPOO" — can't be verified from the label. "3% [GLYCOLIC ACID COMPLEX]" — can't be verified from the label.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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