Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo vs Hair Shampoo for Sensitive Skin: which is safer?
Vanicream Hair Shampoo for Sensitive Skin 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
Vanicream
Hair Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 71/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
aqueous shampoo base (water, surfactants, polymers)
Confidence
78%
Possible1,4-dioxane (surfactant contaminant)
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 Vanicream.
- We flag 1,4-dioxane (surfactant contaminant) on the Vanicream and not on the Aveeno.
- The Aveeno is aqueous liquid shampoo (typical surfactants, conditioning agents, water) where the Vanicream is aqueous shampoo base (water, surfactants, polymers), 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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