Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo vs Roz Salt Scalp Scrub: which is safer?

Roz Salt Scalp Scrub is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

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

Roz Salt Scalp Scrub

Credo Beauty

Roz Salt Scalp Scrub

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 86/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

salt crystals, mineral-based scrub

Confidence

82%

PossibleFragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components

ReportedMechanical irritation from crystal size and shape

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 Credo Beauty.
  • We flag Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance components and Mechanical irritation from crystal size and shape on the Credo Beauty and not on the Aveeno.
  • The Aveeno is aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water) where the Credo Beauty is salt crystals, mineral-based scrub, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Credo Beauty is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 →

More shampoo: see the full ranking