Does Neutrogena shampoo have PFAS?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
We graded 8 Neutrogena shampoo products, averaging Excellent (75/100). 8 of them grade Good or better. Against the other 27 shampoo brands we grade, where the middle brand sits at 75/100, Neutrogena is about typical, scoring above 44% of them.
Neutrogena shampoo worth buying Good or better, safest first
Neutrogena
T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo
aqueous liquid shampoo (salicylic acid, conditioning agents)
Salicylic acid skin irritation and sensitization
Salicylic acid is a known irritant at higher concentrations or with prolonged contact…
Preservative-related contact dermatitis (fragrance and preservatives)
Liquid shampoos require preservatives and fragrances to prevent microbial growth and mask…
Contamination or microbial growth if improperly stored or maintained
Liquid shampoos can support bacterial or fungal growth if the bottle cap is left…
Lower concern; standard shampoo with no known PFAS use or water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
Moisturizing Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost Shampoo
aqueous shampoo (water, surfactants, polymers)
1,4-dioxane (processing contaminant)
Common impurity in ethoxylated surfactants used in mass-market shampoos. Not…
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed fragrance components
Neutrogena shampoos list 'fragrance' as a catch-all ingredient. Individual sensitized…
Lower PFAS concern; typical rinse-off cosmetic with no known water-repellent coating treatment or fluorinated additives.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
Exfoliating Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo
aqueous shampoo formulation with surfactants and conditioning agents
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in surfactants)
Aqueous shampoos with ethoxylated surfactants may contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and imidazolidinyl urea are common preservatives in…
Fragrance allergens
Fragrance is listed as a single ingredient without disclosure of constituent chemicals.…
Scalp irritation from physical/chemical exfoliants
Exfoliating shampoos with microbeads or salicylic acid can cause temporary dryness…
Lower-concern choice; no known PFAS indicators in standard shampoo format, but no brand disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
Hair Restore Strength + Purity Shampoo
aqueous shampoo base (water, surfactants, conditioning agents)
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Shampoos in this category typically contain fragrance blends that can trigger contact…
1,4-dioxane (surfactant byproduct)
Sulfate-based surfactants can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing trace…
Lower PFAS concern; typical rinse-off shampoo with no known triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
Clean Replenishing Shampoo
aqueous shampoo base with surfactants
Fragrance allergens and sensitization
The product contains fragrance (listed generically on label). Specific fragrance…
1,4-dioxane contamination
1,4-dioxane is a potential contaminant in shampoos formulated with ethoxylated…
Lower concern; typical rinse-off shampoo with no documented PFAS risk, but brand offers no transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
T/ Sal Shampoo
aqueous shampoo base with salicylic acid and sulfur
Salicylic acid skin irritation (concentration-dependent)
At typical shampoo concentrations (1.5-2%), salicylic acid is low-risk for brief scalp…
Sulfur odor and contact dermatitis (sulfur sensitivity)
Elemental sulfur is a known allergen in a small subset of the population; contact…
1,4-dioxane or dioxane precursors in surfactants
Sodium lauryl sulfate and similar anionic surfactants can be contaminated with…
Lower concern; traditional shampoo formulation with no known PFAS-prone ingredients or treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Extra Strength Shampoo
aqueous shampoo base (surfactants, salicylic acid, conditioning agents)
Salicylic acid irritation (localized scalp sensitivity)
Salicylic acid at anti-dandruff strengths (1.5-2%) is safe for most users but can cause…
Fragrance allergens
Neutrogena Scalp Therapy contains fragrance compounds; no comprehensive allergen list is…
Preservative safety (undisclosed formula details)
Full preservative system is not detailed on consumer-facing materials. Modern shampoo…
Lower concern; rinse-off shampoo with no known PFAS-prone features, but no public PFAS commitment.
⚠Risky category by default
Neutrogena
T/ Sal Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
aqueous shampoo base with salicylic acid and sulfur actives
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Fragrance compounds in shampoos can trigger allergic contact dermatitis or scalp…
Salicylic acid skin irritation with overuse
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that can cause dryness, irritation, or temporary…
Lower concern. No PFAS triggers found in typical shampoo formulation.
⚠Risky category by default
Better shampoo from other brands
Graded higher than the Neutrogena average of 75.
Credo Beauty
Roz Salt Scalp Scrub
salt crystals, mineral-based scrub
Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components
Limited concern
Mechanical irritation from crystal size and shape
Moderate concern
Low risk, salt scrub formulation carries minimal PFAS concern.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Public Goods Shampoo Refill
aqueous surfactant-based liquid shampoo
1,4-dioxane (surfactant byproduct)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens (undisclosed components)
Limited concern
Bacterial or mold growth in refill container
Limited concern
Lower concern for a MADE SAFE certified shampoo avoiding fluorinated ingredients.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Natural Shampoo
aqueous surfactants, plant-derived cleansers
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants)
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Lower concern for a liquid shampoo with minimal PFAS risk in this category.
⚠Risky category by default
See every Neutrogena product we grade on the Neutrogena brand page, or the full shampoo ranking.