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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo versus Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control .

Last updated on April 04, 2024. Published on May 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe shampoos. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils or parabens

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Shampoo American Brand United States
Shampoo American Brand United States

Shampoo

Detergent or soap for cleansing the hair.

Shampoo

Detergent or soap for cleansing the hair.

Price

Shop

Buy Clinical Strength Shampoo

Starts at $7.15
Shop

Buy T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control

Starts at $7.32

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo contains this as ingredient number 2.

Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo contains this as ingredient number 8.

Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control contains this as ingredient number 7.

3
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo contains this as ingredient number 12.

Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo contains this as ingredient number 13.

Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control contains this as ingredient number 12.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

10% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
65% are disliked or very disliked
20% have no rating yet
17% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Shampoo 20 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings

Neutrogena T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control 12 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating
Ericj89's avatar

Ericj89

3 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Scent: Light scent
Performance: Good to clear scalp acne
Pros: Good to clear scalp acne
Cons: None
WRP/WNRP: WRP

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