Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo vs Weightless Smoothing Shampoo: which is safer?
Cantu Weightless Smoothing Shampoo is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Aveeno
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 63/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water)
Confidence
82%
PossibleSurfactant irritation (skin/eye contact)
PossibleFragrance allergens
PossibleMicrobial contamination (post-purchase)
Our pick
Cantu
Weightless Smoothing Shampoo
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 67/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
aqueous shampoo; typical cosmetic surfactants and conditioning agents
Confidence
75%
Possible1,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants)
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Surfactant irritation (skin/eye contact), Fragrance allergens and Microbial contamination (post-purchase) on the Aveeno and not on the Cantu.
- We flag 1,4-dioxane (contaminant in ethoxylated surfactants) and Fragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers on the Cantu and not on the Aveeno.
- The Aveeno is aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water) where the Cantu is aqueous shampoo; typical cosmetic surfactants and conditioning agents, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
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