Revealed: the secret truth about the beauty industry (part 8)
Foamy and toxic...
Sodium laureth sulphate/sodium lauryl sulphate Today, I tell you about one of the most dangerous of toxins. Sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) and Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) are used very often and in a very large scale.
When you look at the label, it’s usually the second ingredient on the list – but it’s invariably in the upper half of the ranking, directly after water (Acqua). That means that this synthetic substance is used in second-largest measure after water in that product. And the only aim is to make the shower gel foam more intensely...
But that huge foam comes at a huge price.
This chemical ingredient drastically enhances the loss of moisture. The skin becomes dry, stretchy and unable to function properly. That leads to various forms of irritation and promotes skin aging.
To put it bluntly: it blasts away the natural defence of your skin. It may also irritate skin and scalp and lead to hair loss, rashes and other allergic reactions.
Once it has been absorbed through your skin, it enters your body and increases the risk of health problems in the long run. You must take extra care not to let it get into the eyes.
SLS is used in clinical trials to irritate the skin of subject animals and people (yes, this chemical irritates the skin very much) – only to test the healing effects of various creams on the irritated surface. But if the skin is not irritated, there’s no need for creams either.
Carcinogenic ethylene-oxide
Out of the two compounds, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is the more irritating. But sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) is much more treacherous. For this chemical to become ‘soft’ and ‘gentle’ it has to undergo a process called ethoxylation. Remember 1.4 Dioxane? I have to warn you again.
Ethoxylation uses a substance called ethylene-oxide which is carcinogenic. Ethoxylation may also produce some 1.4 Dioxane as a by-product which then gets into the shower gel or shampoo along with SLES. Of course, we know nothing about that – it’s never indicated on the packaging.
You won’t find it among the ingredients by the name ‘dioxane’ – but every ingredient whose name ends with ‘eth’ (myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth) or ‘-oxynol’ can contain dioxane.
Despite all that evidence, SLES and SLS are considered safe (true they haven’t yet been found carcinogenic) and they can be applied without any restriction – so much so that about 90% of foaming products contain one or the other.
After reading all that you might not be taken aback by the fact that these compounds are mostly derived from petroleum.
Normally, products containing SLES or SLS are also packed with synthetic scents, colours and preservatives. Who could point a finger at one of the many chemicals when looking for the cause of eczema?
You might already have spotted the ‘SLS-free’ sign on some product labels – that shows that some manufacturers have realised that consumers are becoming more and more aware of (and intolerant to) chemical-laden products. Nonetheless, many manufacturers stick to their guns – and to SLS. The question is: why?
It’s best to throw away all cosmetics which contain synthetic colours, scents and other chemicals. Take control over your skin’s health now!
Have a wonderful an chemical-free day,
Andrea Varga-Darabos
PS: I feel honoured by your decision to learn from me. However, if you want more in-depth knowledge on these subjects, click here
