Neutrogena · Shampoo
Neutrogena T/ Sal Shampoo
Lower concern, traditional shampoo formulation with no known PFAS-prone ingredients or treatments.
Neutrogena T/Sal is a medicated salicylic acid and sulfur shampoo with no waterproofing, non-stick, or stain-resistant coatings that typically require PFAS. The brand makes no PFAS claims.
Shop Neutrogena on Amazon →Material
aqueous shampoo base with salicylic acid and sulfur
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Neutrogena T/Sal is an aqueous shampoo base containing salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) and sulfur as active ingredients for treating dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. These are well-established pharmaceutical actives with decades of topical safety data. The base is typical detergent-surfactant formulation (sodium lauryl sulfate or similar anionic cleaners) with water as the primary solvent, meaning no plastic leaching risk or thermal degradation concerns common to leave-on creams or oils.
The brand's record and disclosure
Neutrogena (Johnson & Johnson subsidiary) does not publicly emphasize PFAS avoidance or fluorochemical-free claims for this product line, but the formulation itself contains no known PFAS-prone ingredients or water-repellent treatments typical of premium shampoos. The brand has not faced recalls or safety actions specific to this shampoo. Ingredient disclosure via label and Safety Data Sheets is standard; no significant transparency gaps are documented.
How it compares in its category
Among medicated dandruff shampoos, T/Sal occupies a middle ground: simpler formulation than premium sulfur+tar blends, comparable active-ingredient safety to zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide alternatives. It avoids coal-tar (potential PAH concern) and ketoconazole (drug-interaction complexity). The straightforward active-ingredient approach makes it a lower-complexity choice in the therapeutic shampoo market.
If you buy it
Use as directed on label, typically twice weekly for 2 weeks, then reduce to maintenance. Rinse thoroughly to minimize scalp irritation from sulfur odor and residual salicylic acid. Do not use on broken skin or if allergic to sulfonamides. Store at room temperature away from heat; shelf life is standard for aqueous products (check expiration). Discontinue if irritation, burning, or allergic reaction occurs and consult a dermatologist.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Salicylic acid skin irritation (concentration-dependent)
At typical shampoo concentrations (1.5-2%), salicylic acid is low-risk for brief scalp contact. Risk increases with prolonged contact, broken skin, or sensitivity; irritation is reversible upon discontinuation.
Sulfur odor and contact dermatitis (sulfur sensitivity)
Elemental sulfur is a known allergen in a small subset of the population; contact dermatitis or irritation can occur. This is ingredient-inherent, not a contamination or manufacturing concern.
Formaldehyde releasers in preservative system
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are listed in publicly available ingredient disclosures for this product. Standard Neutrogena formulations use safer preservative alternatives.
Heavy metals in pigments or contaminants
This product contains minimal to no pigments or colorants. No recalls or contamination events involving lead, cadmium, or arsenic have been reported for this shampoo line.
1,4-dioxane or dioxane precursors in surfactants
Sodium lauryl sulfate and similar anionic surfactants can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane during ethoxylation if manufacturing controls are lax. Neutrogena's parent company (J&J) has committed to 1,4-dioxane reduction but does not guarantee removal; residual trace levels are plausible but not confirmed for this specific product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Shampoo
Credo Beauty
Roz Salt Scalp Scrub
salt crystals, mineral-based scrub
Lower-concern buy, salt scrub formulation carries minimal inherent PFAS risk.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Public Goods Shampoo Refill
aqueous surfactant-based liquid shampoo
Lower-concern shampoo refill; Puracy's MADE SAFE cert and no-PFAS positioning align, but cosmetic formulation labs are rarely published.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Puracy
Natural Baby Shampoo Body Wash
water-based surfactants, plant-derived ingredients, aqueous solution
Lower PFAS concern, liquid cosmetic with no water-resistant or nonstick triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
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.