Shower gels in the Öko-Test: Test winner from drugstore is a bargain

You should also take a close look at body care products, because many contain problematic substances.

Shower gels in the Öko-Test: Test winner from drugstore is a bargain

You should also take a close look at body care products, because many contain problematic substances. This also applies to shower gels, as Öko-Test shows. Even if, as expected, natural cosmetic products performed best in the test, a conventional drugstore product was also convincing.

For many, a refreshing shower in the morning is part of a successful start to the day. It is also mandatory in the evening due to the currently high temperatures. It does not always have to be an expensive product from the pharmacy for personal hygiene. This is also reflected in the new Öko-Test report on shower gels. Two of the tested products failed, which is partly due to problematic fragrances.

A total of 40 shower gels, including 16 certified natural cosmetic products from drugstores, supermarkets and discounters, were purchased and tested. These are in a price range of 0.54 euros to 8.69 euros per 250 milliliters.

A consistently "very good" result was achieved by the 16 products certified as natural cosmetics, including, for example, the Alterra care shower Bio-Rose (for 1.49 euros; price per 250 milliliters) and Weleda Harmony aroma shower gel, which scored 8.69 Euro most expensive tested shower gel. Among the conventional products, only one product was "very good", the Balea Natural Beauty Invigorating Shower Gel Organic Hemp Seed Oil, which at 0.95 euros is one of the cheapest products in the test. There has also been a positive development in the past few months, because only three of the 40 products tested contain synthetic polymers that are classified as harmful to the environment.

Products are deducted from Öko-Test if, for example, PEG/PEG derivatives are found. These can make the skin permeable to foreign substances. The situation is similar with halogen-organic compounds, which can be carcinogenic. In addition, grades were deducted for certain fragrances that can trigger allergic reactions because, according to the Öko-Test, they are easy for the manufacturer to replace. Many suppliers advertise that their packaging is made from recycled plastic. Öko-Test also checked this and deducted points if the proportion of recycled material was insufficient.

Ten of the tested products were rated "good" and "satisfactory". The largest proportion with eleven shower gels was rated "sufficient" and one even "poor".

The tail lights in the test are: