What is SLS?
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, which is a cheap chemical that allows you to homogenously mix oils, fats or waxes into water emulsions. It’s used in a variety of products such as cosmetics, food thickeners, toothpaste, and floor cleaners. All the soaps and cleaning products that you use are a mix of water and oil, but they don’t mix together on their own. Instead, surfactants bring them together.
Soap's cleaning power comes from the bonded oil and water molecules rubbing against dirt and grease. That is why so many products have surfactants in them. They blend the ingredients that make cleaning happen. Essentially, it acts as an anionic surfactant that emulsifies and removes dirt in your hygiene and cosmetic products.
SLS is used in a variety of products, including:
- Liquid hand soap
- Hair products
- Dental care products
- Bath products
- Creams and lotions
- Shaving cream
- Lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Nail treatments
- Makeup remover
- Foundation
- Facial cleansers
- Exfoliants
Why you should read the label on your skin care products
People with a history of sensitive skin, hyperirritable skin and patients suffering from inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), rosacea, psoriasis and itchy skin and sculp should avoid products containing SLS. SLS strips the skin of its natural oils which causes dry skin, irritation and allergic reactions. It can also be very irritating to the eyes.
The Science
Sodium lauryl sulfate can be synthetic or naturally derived. SLS is a common ingredient used in “natural” beauty products which is a surfactant derived from coconut oil. It is considered “natural” ingredient by some personal care product manufacturers because of this derivation.
This chemical is synthesized by reacting lauryl alcohol from a petroleum or plant source with sulfur trioxide to produce hydrogen lauryl sulfate, which is then neutralized with sodium carbonate to produce SLS.
This manufacturing process used to turn sodium lauryl sulfate into sodium laureth sulfate, creates the byproduct 1,4-dioxane - a known animal carcinogen and probable human carcinogen that is also suspected to be toxic to the kidneys and respiratory system. 1.4-dioxane in trace amounts are safe, but short-term exposure to relatively high amounts of result in liver and kidney toxicity.
Research has come back calling SLS safe (if used briefly and rinsed from the skin right after), and so, most companies have stuck to limiting SLS concentration to a maximum of 1% in their skin care products.
What does the research say?
Products containing SLS go through frequent, thorough testing. Research has found that SLS can irritate the skin and that warm water makes the irritation worse.
The highest risk of using products with SLS is irritation to your eyes, skin, mouth, and lungs. For people with sensitive skin, sulfates may also clog pores and cause acne.
SLS is a surfactant (the chemical responsible for removing dirt and oil from the skin), and according to scientists, it's known to cause significant irritation and inflammation. They also note that this can cause skin barrier disruption and make active breakouts worse.
This all tends to go away when you stop using the product with SLS.
Making better skin care decisions
Ultimately, the best way to steer clear of SLS is to purchase from brands that make sulfate-free products. Sulfates are not vital to your cleansing routine, so there are many brands that don’t make use of it at all (seriously, all they really do is make your products foam up). Let’s take a look at some natural, local alternatives.
Shampoo & Conditioner
Brand: Earthsap
Earthsap has been a manufacturer of earth-friendly toiletries and cleaning products for more than 20 years, working continuously to improve their earth-friendly formulas, giving you a completely safe and toxin-free alternative to conventional cleaners and cosmetics. The proudly South African products from Earthsap have been formulated with the help of skilled microbiologists and are made using pure plant oils and other natural ingredients.
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Body Wash
Brand: Le Naturel
The products created are rich blends of advanced natural skin-care with organic and herbaceous ingredients that are used to craft a simple range of natural skincare products. They only use the highest quality raw ingredients, sustainably sourced in South Africa - contributing to the agricultural development and protection of indigenous plants which serve us in so many ways. Medicinally, therapeutically and spiritually.
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Lip Balm
Brand: LanoLab
Lanolab multi-use balm is best known to soothe chapped and dry lips. It’s locally made in South Africa and 100% natural with no added fragrance. The hero ingredient, lanolin locks in moisture while the papaya extract is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, which is why Lanolab assists with soothing everything from dry lips, minor skin irritations and burns; chafing, sunburn, cracked nipples and nappy rash.
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Hand Santiser
Brand: SanOT
San-O-Tizer is the perfect solution for your basic hand and surface sanitization needs. This product is completely safe and 100% natural as the active ingredient, Hypochlorous acid, is produced by your white blood cells as your body’s first line of defense. This hypochlorous solution is an effective hydrating, eco-friendly, anti-microbial disinfectant, suitable for general purpose sanitation.
This solution is safe to use on all skin types and can even be sprayed directly onto open wounds, burns, bites, rashes, and eczema to reduce inflammation, promote hydration and disinfect the area from fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
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Skin care
Brand: SkinSpring
SkinSpring is the latest innovation in skin care on the market. It’s a premium quality Hypochlorous solution suitable for all skin types. It’s healing benefits are ideal for:
- Skin rejuvenation and ageing skin
- Dehydrated and dull complexion
- Repairing damaged, burnt, infected and inflamed skin
- Combatting skin conditions including (but not limited to) psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, erythema, rosacea, rashes, acne and cold-sores
- Preventing scarring, keratosis, hyperpigmentation and discoloration
- Enhanced recovery from invasive skin treatments (derma-pen, micro-needling, laser and acid peels) as well as cosmetic surgeries
- Removal of excess dirt or makeup
It’s applications on the skin are also seemingly endless! Keep a bottle handy for treatment of cosmetic and invasive aesthetic procedures (surgery, laser, IPL procedures, derma rolling, microneedling, Platelet-Rich plasma therapy, tattoo, chemical peel and microdermabrasion), a general every day natural toner and anti-septic, shaving and waxing, skin conditions like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, rash, and other inflammatory skin responses, and painful topical wounds like cuts, scratches, bites, burns, sunburns, stings, infections and cold sores.
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People are seriously moving away from using chemicals in their day-to-day lives. Daily use of SLS’s and other toxins over any given period of time have a profound impact on our health. Luckily, there are some amazing, innovative brands that understand this and work to create the most effective, natural cosmetic products that heal!