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Shower shampoo test: 9 out of 12 products contain questionable ingredients

22.2.2023

Translation: machine translated

Combined shower gel and shampoo products can be found in many bathrooms. They are practical and inexpensive. But unfortunately they are also not without danger, as a test has now shown.

Combining hair shampoo and shower gel in one product? That's really not news. Savers and pragmatists have had shower shampoos in their care portfolio for a long time. Resource savers also like to use a "2-in-1" product, as it shortens showering time and reduces water consumption. The environment thanks us, and dermatologists advise against long washing orgies anyway. K-Tipp, the Swiss equivalent of the German consumer organisation Stiftung Warentest, took a closer look at some shower all-rounders.

What the laboratory comparison revealed, however, does not speak in favour of the combination products: Out of a total of twelve items tested, nine had dodgy ingredients. Some well-known manufacturers such as Kneipp, Head & Shoulders and Axe were at the bottom of the list. Four other products, such as Obia and the Migros brand I Am, also contained critical substances in a concentration of over 100 milligrams per kilo in the shower gel. This means that they are not classified as safe by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).

Some fragrances can lead to allergies with frequent contact

In response to enquiries from the K-Tipp editorial team, there were various reactions from manufacturers. Procter & Gamble, who produce the Head & Shoulders shower shampoo, point out that the product has been removed from the Swiss range. Kneipp, on the other hand, justifies its use of allergenic substances with a "citrus-fruity fragrance experience". In addition, the declaration of the substances is sufficient to ensure safe use. Manufacturer Unilever argues that its Axe product fulfils the rules of the Swiss Cosmetics Ordinance.

Shower gels

Head & Shoulders Refreshing Shower Gel And Shampoo

225 ml

Shower gels

AXE Africa

250 ml

Overall, the test is a clear example of how many shower shampoos can quickly become anti-care products due to allergenic and environmentally harmful substances. The culprits are often the fragrances they contain. Perfume ingredients such as artificial musk compounds or coumarin, limonene or linalool can become a problem on the skin or in nature.

The reason for this is that such substances oxidise more quickly in the shower due to contact with oxygen and heat and irritate the body much more than in their original form. The range of possible effects extends from redness, swelling or blisters to discomfort and headaches. Some of these substances are also fatal for many aquatic organisms, as they pollute rivers and bodies of water in the long term. Sewage treatment plants cannot filter out all the substances that are flushed down the drain. This means that fresh, floral lavender and lemon fragrances, of all things, which are reminiscent of nature, become the enemy of nature.

Note: Don't make purchasing decisions with your nose

If you want to do something good for yourself and the environment, opt for low-fragrance cosmetics. Ph Balance, Nivea and Alterra Naturkosmetik, for example, show what flawless shower shampoos can look like. The latter even came out on top of these three and proves that good, environmentally friendly skincare doesn't have to be expensive.