TRESemmé Moisture Rich: Two Silicones, Three Conditioners, One Black-Box Scent
Heavy on the conditioning chemistry (which is fine) and heavy on the MCI/MI preservative pair (which isn't).
TRESemmé loads up: two silicones and a three-part cationic conditioning system, all well-cleared chemistry that does genuinely smooth hair. Credit too for breaking out the fragrance allergens, which the law requires and many skip. The flag is the same MCI/MI preservative combo the EU pulled from leave-on products, here in a rinse-off where it is still permitted. Good conditioning, dated preservative.
The label, flagged
Aqua
Cetearyl Alcohol
fatty alcohol, conditioning
DimethiconeACTUALLY FINE
Repeatedly cleared by CIR: it does not penetrate skin, is not a carcinogen or mutagen, and has very low toxicity. The two genuine issues are buildup (a hair-feel and wash-frequency cycle, not a health risk) and the environmental restriction on a different molecule, volatile D5. We clear it and name the real nuance.
conditioning silicone
Stearamidopropyl DimethylamineACTUALLY FINE
CIR and the EU's SCCS have cleared these at rinse-off conditioner concentrations, with mild irritation only at high levels. Critically, these are not the sprayed disinfectant quats linked to occupational asthma, different chain length, concentration, and route. Treating them as the same is a category error we avoid.
AmodimethiconeACTUALLY FINE
Repeatedly cleared by CIR: it does not penetrate skin, is not a carcinogen or mutagen, and has very low toxicity. The two genuine issues are buildup (a hair-feel and wash-frequency cycle, not a health risk) and the environmental restriction on a different molecule, volatile D5. We clear it and name the real nuance.
conditioning silicone
Behentrimonium ChlorideACTUALLY FINE
CIR and the EU's SCCS have cleared these at rinse-off conditioner concentrations, with mild irritation only at high levels. Critically, these are not the sprayed disinfectant quats linked to occupational asthma, different chain length, concentration, and route. Treating them as the same is a category error we avoid.
Cetrimonium ChlorideACTUALLY FINE
CIR and the EU's SCCS have cleared these at rinse-off conditioner concentrations, with mild irritation only at high levels. Critically, these are not the sprayed disinfectant quats linked to occupational asthma, different chain length, concentration, and route. Treating them as the same is a category error we avoid.
MethylchloroisothiazolinoneCAUTION
A preservative the EU banned from all leave-on products after it triggered an allergy epidemic across Europe. Capped hard in rinse-off there; uncapped here.
MCI
MethylisothiazolinoneCAUTION
A preservative the EU banned from all leave-on products after it triggered an allergy epidemic across Europe. Capped hard in rinse-off there; uncapped here.
MI, EU-banned in leave-on
ParfumCAUTION
Not a hazard in itself, but a legal black box. “Fragrance” can shield ingredients (including EU-banned ones) that you are never told are there.
undisclosed blend
PhenoxyethanolCAUTION
The default paraben replacement, cleared by the EU at up to 1%, but France moved to keep it off babies' skin. Fine for most; watch it around infants.
preservative
Hexyl CinnamalCAUTION
A jasmine-scented fragrance allergen on the EU's named-disclosure list, a documented sensitizer that US labels can bury under 'Fragrance.'
declared fragrance allergen
LimoneneCAUTION
Harmless fresh, but it oxidizes in air and on skin into potent contact allergens. Real, measurable sensitization; not a cancer scare.
declared fragrance allergen
LinaloolCAUTION
Same story as limonene: weak on its own, a real sensitizer once oxidized. Common cause of fragrance contact allergy.
declared fragrance allergen
Source: INCIDecoder ingredient list. View label. Tap any flagged ingredient for the evidence.
What to use instead
The fix isn’t complicated: a fragrance-free or fully-disclosed alternative, with the ingredients flagged on this label designed out, closes these gaps at once. We pick the ones worth your money.
Shop fragrance-free conditioner →Editorial analysis of the publicly listed label and regulatory/peer-reviewed sources. Not medical advice, not affiliated with the brand. Verdicts are evidence-graded, we flag what the data flags and clear what it clears.