Aveeno Skin Relief Soothing Shampoo
Lower PFAS concern; standard rinse-off shampoo without documented risk triggers.
This water-based rinse-off shampoo lacks waterproofing, nonstick coatings, or PFAS-treatment applications. No published lab detections or recalls exist for this product line.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Water-based shampoo; aqueous surfactant formulation
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Aveeno Skin Relief Soothing Shampoo is made of, ingredients and materials
Aveeno Skin Relief is an aqueous surfactant-based shampoo, meaning it uses detergents dissolved in water to cleanse hair and scalp. The formulation includes colloidal oatmeal (the brand's signature ingredient) suspended in a mild anionic surfactant system. Because it is a rinse-off product applied briefly to hair and scalp then washed away, ingredients have minimal dermal absorption time and low systemic exposure risk compared to leave-on products.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
1,4-dioxane (solvent/contaminant)
Aqueous surfactant shampoos can contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation during surfactant manufacture. Aveeno does not disclose testing for this contaminant. Rinse-off exposure is minimal, but no verification of absence is on record.
Fragrance allergens
This product contains fragrance compounds listed on the label. Common fragrance allergens (limonene, linalool) are typical in consumer shampoos and may trigger contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals; the 'Skin Relief' formulation aims for reduced irritation but does not exclude fragrance.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are listed in publicly available ingredients for this product. Aveeno uses other preservation systems, and no safety alerts have been issued.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Shampoos do not typically contain colorants requiring heavy metal pigments (unlike makeup or dyes). No documented contamination in this product category for Aveeno.
Source, FDA ↗Talc contamination
This is a liquid shampoo formulation with no talc ingredient or talc-based thickeners. Talc-related asbestos risk does not apply.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Aveeno (Johnson & Johnson subsidiary) does not publicly detail PFAS testing data or PFAS-free claims for this product, which is typical of the shampoo category where fluorinated compounds are less common than in cosmetics with long-wear or water-resistance claims. The brand has not faced documented recalls or safety controversies specific to this shampoo. J&J maintains regulatory compliance with FDA cosmetic ingredient rules but does not pursue third-party certifications (e.g., EWG, Clean Beauty) for this line.
How it compares in its category
Mild shampoos formulated for sensitive skin sit in a low-hazard segment. Aveeno Skin Relief positions itself against sulfate-free, hypoallergenic competitors (e.g., Vanicream, Free & Clear). This product avoids noted irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate but uses standard INCI-approved surfactants. No independent testing in peer-reviewed literature has raised chemical safety flags specific to this formulation.
If you buy it
Use as directed on damp hair and rinse thoroughly with water; standard shampoo handling poses no special precautions. No heat exposure or prolonged contact is typical for rinse-off shampoos. Replace every 6 to 12 months or when efficacy declines. If scalp irritation occurs, discontinue and patch-test on a small area before resuming.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Aveeno has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More shampoo grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.