amber
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Ostensibly 'gentle' but ACDS Allergen of the Year 2004. Contains DMAPA/amidoamine impurities.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Thanks To Nature Cool Curls Shampoo With Aloe Vera For Curly Hair 500mL
Is Thanks To Nature Cool Curls Shampoo With Aloe Vera For Curly Hair 500mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 8 ingredients (8 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
8 caution
8 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative — generally well-tolerated but documented as MCAS and contact-dermatitis trigger in sensitive individuals.
amber
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Manufacturing process can leave 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide as contaminants. Look for 'vacuum-stripped' products.
amber
Maltitol
Sugar alcohol. Common osmotic-laxative and bloating trigger in IBS at >10g intake.
amber
Polyquaternium-76
Documented respiratory and skin sensitiser. Common MCAS and asthma trigger.
Svanes et al. Bergen Respiratory Health Study, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018
amber
Acrylates Copolymer
Synthetic polymer film-former. Microplastic concern (rinse-off products), low-grade monomer-residue concern.
amber
Disodium EDTA
Chelating agent — generally tolerated but documented MCAS trigger in case reports.
amber
Sodium Benzoate
Implicated in childhood hyperactivity studies and reported MCAS trigger.
Full ingredients (from label)
WaterSodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateCocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerinCocamide Methyl MEAMaltosePhenoxyethanolSodium ChloridePEG-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateFragranceMaltitolPolyquaternium-76EthylhexylglycerinStearyl AlcoholPolyquaternium-7Panthenol (Provitamin B5)Dichlorobenzyl AlcoholCetyl AlcoholAcrylates CopolymerDisodium EDTAHydrolyzed Wheat ProteinAloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractButylene GlycolSodium BenzoateHydroxyacetophenoneHexamethylindano-pyranTetramethylacetyloctahydroNaphthalenes.
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.