Sodium Lauryl & Laureth Sulphate – Safe for You?

Excerpt is taken from Green People website

Do you find it hard to decipher these common skincare acronyms? Here we explain the difference between SLS and SLES and reveal why all Green People body washes and shampoos are free from both SLS and SLES.

WHAT IS SLS AND WHY DO WE AVOID IT?

SLS stands for sodium lauryl sulphate and is commonly added to foaming skincare products like shampoo, shaving gel, toothpaste and shower gel to help them to lather.

When SLS is mixed with water it creates a lot of foam which can help to lift dirt and impurities from the skin and scalp. It is also a relatively cheap ingredient and can help cosmetic manufacturers to keep the cost of their products purse-friendly. Unfortunately, it is a known skin irritant.

WHAT IS SLES AND WHY DO WE AVOID IT?

SLES stands for sodium laureth sulphate and it is another synthetic foaming agent. It is produced when SLS undergoes a process called ethoxylation. This process helps to make SLS more water-soluble and less skin-irritating, but it may be accidentally contaminated with a chemical called 1,4 dioxane.

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