What Is Sls In Cosmetics?

Commonly known as SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a chemical surfactant used in all sorts of cosmetics and cleaning products. It can be derived from petroleum, palm oil or coconut oil. It works by turning liquids into a foam and you’ll usually find it in things like toothpaste, body wash, soaps and detergents.

Is SLS harmful for skin?

What Is SLS? Reviewed by on November 27, 2021 Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, which basically means it has an effect on the surfaces it touches. It’s used in a variety of products such as food thickeners, toothpaste, and floor cleaners. All the soaps and 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. ‌ Sodium lauryl sulfate is very easy and inexpensive to make, and it works well in many situations.

You’ll see it listed as an ingredient in common products found in the home and in the workplace. ‌ Personal Products. These include things like:

Hand soapFacial cleanerBubble bathToothpasteShampoo

SLS is also a foaming agent. Many of these products use SLS to give a foaming action during the cleaning process. If you have a foaming face wash or are working up a good lather with your shampoo, you’re probably using something with SLS. ‌ Cleaning Products.

Sodium lauryl sulfate’s ability to break down oil and grease lends itself well to industrial products. You can find it in household cleaning products as well as engine cleaners and industrial-strength soaps. ‌ Food. You may see SLS used in certain foods you eat, within limits approved by the FDA. As a, SLS can make marshmallows fluffier and dried egg products lighter.

It helps mix citrus and other acidic liquids with water to make fruit drinks. However, SLS is not allowed in food globally. In fact, it is banned from being used as a food additive in the European Union. Your skin works hard to keep damaging things from getting through its top layer.

Surfactants generally can be harmful because they can sometimes penetrate that layer. But experts say that SLS that gets through the skin is quickly broken down and turned into waste matter. ‌ Research has found that SLS can irritate the skin and that warm water makes the irritation worse. This tends to go away when you stop using the product with SLS.

But when you use a facial cleanser,, or shampoo, you usually wash it off right away. So even though sodium lauryl sulfate is a known skin irritant, it can be used on the skin and in the mouth as long as you don’t keep it on for too long. Product labels must state that SLS is in the mix.

Only so much of it is allowed to be in any given product, though the amount may vary by country. In the U.S., if a product is meant to stay on the body for a longer time, it can have only 1% SLS. In most cases that people report extreme skin irritation from SLS, they have left it on for too long or used it in a concentration too high for them.

Is sodium lauryl sulfate carcinogenic? Products containing SLS go through frequent, thorough testing. No major national or international cancer organization or research center has found sodium lauryl sulfate to be linked with cancer. ‌ Does sodium lauryl sulfate cause hair loss? Researchers have also concluded that SLS does not cause hair loss.

Does sodium lauryl sulfate cause cataracts? Researchers point out that the lens of the eye, where cataracts form, is protected by other parts of the eye.
SLS can’t touch the lens, so it most likely doesn’t cause cataracts.
Still, you should try to keep products with SLS out of your eyes.
So is it safe for everyone? If you have very sensitive skin and are prone to rashes, you might want to stay away from sodium lauryl sulfate.

If you have a skin condition such as or psoriasis, you may want to do without SLS in your body wash. Additionally, you should also note that SLS and its negative effects greatly depend on the formulation that it is in. One product that has SLS might be easier on your skin than another product that also has SLS in it. © 2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. : What Is SLS?

Is SLS harmful?

– The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regards SLS as safe as a food additive. Regarding its use in cosmetics and body products, the safety assessment study of SLS, published in 1983 in the International Journal of Toxicology (the most recent assessment), found that it’s not harmful if used briefly and rinsed from the skin, as with shampoos and soaps.

The report says that products that stay on the skin longer shouldn’t exceed 1 percent concentration of SLS.
However, the same assessment did suggest some possible, albeit minimal, risk to humans using SLS.
For example, some tests found that continuous skin exposure to SLS could cause mild to moderate irritation in animals.

Nevertheless, the assessment concluded that SLS is safe in formulations used in cosmetics and personal care products. Because many of these products are designed to be rinsed off after short applications, the risks are minimal. According to most research, SLS is an irritant but not a carcinogen,

What is SLS free in skincare?

What is SLS? – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a chemical that you’ll find in lots of different skincare products, as well as household detergent products, because it creates foam. This ability to create lather makes them a surfactant – they lower the surface water tension.

That’s the chemistry behind it! Sulfates are detergents which come from different sources, including petroleum.
They are generally cheap for manufacturers to use and they create a foamy lather which has become expected in things like shampoos over the last few decades.
Indeed, many of us may feel that something isn’t truly working to get us or our homes clean, if it doesn’t come with a fabulous lather.

SLS is just one type of sulfate, alongside other ones such as sodium stearyl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA). SLS is probably the most commonly recognised sulfate, and has certainly been in the press more and more due to increasing concerns over its use.

Should you avoid SLS?

Who should avoid SLS? – People with a history of sensitive skin, hyperirritable skin and patients suffering from skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), rosacea and psoriasis are best to avoid products containing SLS. There are many safer alternatives available (look for fatty alcohol ethoxylate, alkyl phenol ethoxylate or fatty acid alkoxylate on the label). Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article,

Is sodium lauryl sulfate banned in Europe?

5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – SLS is another chemical banned in the EU that is extremely common in US cosmetics, shampoos and other beauty products. It is used as a foaming agent and surfactant — something that allows liquids to interact. It is banned in the EU because it is a known skin irritant ; in fact cosmetic companies even use it to induce irritation when conducting trials.

Why do people avoid SLS?

Sulfate concerns Health: SLS and SLES can irritate eyes, skin, and lungs, especially with long-term use. SLES may also be contaminated with a substance called 1,4-dioxane, which is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. This contamination occurs during the manufacturing process.

Is SLS and paraben bad?

7 Reasons To Switch To Paraben And Sulfate-free Products – Paraben and sulfate products are harmful and everybody should be aware of the reason. Simply put, they are toxic and can seep beyond the skin’s surface, which can cause health concerns. We have listed seven reasons you should consider swapping your products for cleaner options if you want to reduce the number of chemicals in your beauty products.

They are chemicals – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are surfactants and cleansing agents packed with foaming properties. They are most commonly found in shampoos and body washes and are responsible for stripping the scalp of moisture and natural oils. They contain preservatives – If methyl butyl-, ethyl-, and propyl parabens are the terms mentioned on your product’s ingredient list, then the product is surely packed with preservatives. These chemicals are used to prevent bacteria growth and increase a product’s shelf-life. They can cause irritation – Both paraben and sulfate-free products are known to strip the skin and scalp of moisture and natural oils. This can lead to dryness, inflammation, redness, and sensitivity. It is advised to choose paraben and sulfate-free products if you deal with sensitive or acne-prone skin, and even dandruff as they can worsen your skin conditions and allergies. They can lead to hormonal imbalance – There is evidence that these chemicals interfere with the normal hormone levels of the body. One of the studies stated a decreased menstrual cycle length in women with increased levels of parabens in their urine. Another study in the Environmental Health Perspectives stated that parabens act like estrogen in the body. Increased estrogen can cause both normal and cancerous breast cells to grow and divide. They can cause early signs of ageing – Many dermatologists and beauty experts are of the opinion that these chemicals and preservatives cause premature ageing. For example, methylparaben is a type of paraben that is responsible for collagen degradation and can cause cell depletion. To prevent yourself from early signs of ageing, you should only opt for paraben and sulfate-free products. They can cause hair loss – According to dermatologists, overuse of SLS damages the hair follicles which leads to hair that is dry and prone to easy breakage. Sulfates, which are strong surfactants, also mess with the hair protein causing weak hair cuticles and excessive hair fall.

Since you will be avoiding SLS and Paraben products from now on, you should consider some of the natural and better options as an alternative. is a brand that is a natural and Ayurveda-based brand that provides products that are free from harmful chemicals.

Why is sodium lauryl sulfate banned?

Why Is It Used? Potential Benefits – What does sodium lauryl sulfate do that makes it such a widespread ingredient? As mentioned above, it helps bind oil and water molecules together in soapy products. This allows products to trap grime, dirt, food and other junk and then wash them away. Therefore, uses and potential benefits of SLS include:

Breaking up and soaking up stains, debris and grease from things like carpets, dishes, etc. Removing excess oil and makeup from skin Removing food particles from teeth Thickening/emulsifying ingredients in certain foods

Is sodium lauryl sulfate banned? No, it’s legal to use in the U.S. in many dermatological and household products, as well as some foods. It might seem strange that this ingredient is known to be harmful to the skin, yet it’s still allowed to be added to many products.

Is SLS a carcinogen?

Bottom line – SLS is not a carcinogen, yet there are many platforms that provide information and alternative products if the chemical causes eye or skin irritation.

Is SLS a natural ingredient?

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a cleaning agent and surfactant, is an ingredient in many personal care and cleaning products. SLS can be derived from natural sources like coconut oil and palm kernel oil and can also be manufactured in a laboratory setting.

Is Clinique SLS free?

No fragrance. Just happy skin. What else is this product free of? Gluten Free, Oil Free, Free of Denatured Alcohol, SLS Free.

Is SLS a hormone disruptor?

#5 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Commonly referred to as SLS, sodium lauryl sulfate is found in most shampoos, however, the scary thing is that is it also the same chemical found in many floor cleaners and even engine degreasers. It is crazy to think that an industrial product like SLS would be allowed to wind up in our bottle of shampoo or hand soap.

What is a safer alternative to SLS?

How to Avoid SLS in your Beauty Products (and what to use instead!) Whether you’re buying natural beauty products or looking to formulate your own, you probably want to put only the very best, most effective, natural ingredients on your skin, hair, and face.

And if you’re at all interested in natural beauty products, chances are you’ve heard of SLS (and are probably looking to avoid it.) SLS stands for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and you may have even read about why it’s, although you might not know what it is, or why to avoid it.
As a type of surfactant—or surface active agent—SLS serves the function of reducing the surface tension between the oil and the water ingredients in a product.

It is the surfactants in things like shampoo or a body wash which allows the product to produce foam, disperse ingredients, attach to the dirt and debris on the skin and hair and carry it away in the rinse. Although SLS is a strong and effective detergent, it’s often one of the most (if not the most) harsh and irritating surfactants out there.

Have shown that it damages the acid mantle of the skin, the protective outer barrier created by our body’s natural oils and sebum.
For many hair types, too, it may be too drying and damaging, even if softening butters and oils are included in the product’s ingredient list.
The damage may not be immediate, but over time, it will show up.

The good news is that there are many alternatives to SLS, ones you can find on the shelf, if you know how to look for them, as well as ones you can use in making your own products. So, what can you use instead? If you’re just looking to avoid SLS in your off-the-shelf products, learning is a bit of an art as well as a science.

There are many chemical-sounding ingredients that show up on a label that might sound dangerous or strange, especially as you’re just starting out with choosing natural products.
The old adage of “It’s not safe if you can’t pronounce it” isn’t a great way to vet things.
The truth is, everything is made up of chemicals—water, soil, plants, our pets, and even us! We all say we want to avoid “chemicals,” but what we really mean is we want to avoid ingredients that are harsh or harmful.

And so it’s not chemicals themselves which are dangerous or unnatural. It’s what the ingredients are, and what they do, that you should understand, so you can make the safest and healthiest choice for you! When it comes to SLS, most common versions of it are manufactured with petroleum.

However, some variations of it are manufactured with vegetable ingredients, such as palm oil and coconut oil. It may come as a surprise that these coconut-derived variants on SLS are still permitted in many reputable organic standards, such as Ecocert and the Cosmetic Organic and Natural Standard, or COSMOS.

Although these vegetable-derived ingredients may seem better because of their natural source, they are so heavily processed and altered that they’re only barely ‘natural’ any longer. Likewise, with palm-derived SLS, there’s a wealth of information available about the destructive palm-oil industry, and eco-conscious consumers may wish to avoid these ingredients for this reason as well.SLS can be listed as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate.

It can also show up as sodium alkyl sulfate (SAS).
Another sulfate which is similar to SLS is ALS, or ammonium laureth sulfate.
Since it is a bigger molecule than SLS, it can’t penetrate the skin as readily as SLS can, that’s why it is less irritating than SLS.
But it can still cause dryness and irritation, especially on sensitive skin, and can be very drying for hair.

Some safer alternatives you can look for in your products include SLSA (sodium lauryl sulfoacetate), Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium / Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Decyl glucoside, and Lauryl glucoside. For those of you who are formulating your own beauty products, you may already be aware that surfactants are the essential ingredient you must include when formulating a shampoo, or any other beauty cleanser that foams.

SLSA (sodium lauryl sulfoacetate) Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate SCS (Sodium Coco Sulfate) Disodium / Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Decyl glucoside Lauryl glucoside.

A very popular alternative is Sodium Coco Sulfate (or SCS), which is also approved by many certification bodies. What consumers (and many formulators!) don’t know however, is that SCS contains about 50% of SLS. You see, SLS is one single molecule—sodium salt of lauric acid (a fatty acid from coconut) that also reacts with sulfuric acid to create a sulfate.

SCS, on the other hand, is a mixture of sodium salts of all of the fatty acids that are present in coconut oil (and coconut oil contains about 50% lauric acid) that also reacted with sulfuric acid to create sulfate. To put it in other words—the production method (chemical part) is exactly the same for both surfactants.

The only difference is the starting material. For SLS that is lauric acid only (a component of coconut oil), for SCS the starting material is coconut oil as a whole. That being said, the presence of other fatty acids makes SCS slightly less irritating than pure SLS.

When it comes down to it, choosing a natural surfactant really can be almost a philosophical question—what does ‘natural’ mean for you? Some alternatives are naturally-derived up to a certain percentage, but then undergo big chemical changes to become surfactants.
More and more so-called ‘green’ surfactants are available every day, but the choice of not-so-green ones is still bigger; many surfactants, even new ones, still contain all sorts of ethoxylated molecules, PEGs, and so forth.

Download this fabulous book and discover recipes for:

Cocoa Butter and Patchouli Solid Shampoo Bar Shea and Coconut Conditioner for Dry Hair Monoi Beauty Butter for Hair Vanilla and Benzoin Solid Conditioner Bar Gentle Aloe and Chamomile Liquid Shampoo for normal hair

L. Rhein, 2007, C.3 – Surfactant Action on Skin and Hair: Cleansing and Skin Reactivity Mechanisms. : How to Avoid SLS in your Beauty Products (and what to use instead!)

Does SLS absorb through skin?

Abstract – Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is known to penetrate skin and cause cutaneous irritation. Some of these effects have been well-defined using bioengineering techniques. In this study, the ability of SLS to penetrate skin was quantified in a hairless rat model.

In addition, local deep tissue penetration and systemic exposure to SLS were also evaluated to assess the toxic potential of topically applied SLS.
SLS was observed to penetrate directly to a depth of about 5-6 mm below the applied site.
Systemic redistribution was predominantly responsible in determining concentrations of SLS in tissues deeper than 5-6 mm.

Epidermal concentrations of SLS after application of 1% (34 mM) aqueous SLS solution for 24 h were above the threshold levels which are known to evoke typical skin irritation responses. Deeper underlying tissues including dermis, subcutaneous, and muscle may also be exposed to high levels of SLS.

Topically applied SLS was also observed in blood and contralateral tissues but the observed levels were not likely to elicit any systemic side effects at these doses.
Traces of SLS were observed in tissues 7 days after single 24 h application of SLS, which supports the prolonged barrier disruption data generated using conventional bioengineering techniques.

Cumulative treatment of SLS significantly increased the concentration of this compound in the underlying epidermis. The known preferential affinity of SLS for skin lipids and proteins was further confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo results. However, in vitro studies failed to predict the underlying tissue toxicity of SLS under the patch site when compared to the in vivo results.

Is it okay to use a SLS face wash?

Five Cosmetic Ingredients You May Want to Avoid –

Phthalate

There are several different varieties of phthalates based on the number and formation of the carbon molecules. Phthalates are very common in the cosmetic industry because they serve a variety of functions. Various forms of phthalates are used as (1) a solubilizer to dissolve ingredients, (2) a humectant to prevent products from drying out, (3) an emollient to soften skin or (4) as a plasticizer to increase the flexibility of plastics.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate ( SLS ) and sodium laureth sulfate ( SLES ) are two related compounds which are found in a wide range of facial cleansers, These compounds are mostly used in the cosmetic industry to create a creamy foam but are also in synthetic detergents and surfactants.

Parabens

There are several different chemical compounds which are a part of the paraben family, The most significant distinguishing factor between these related compounds is the length of its carbon side chain. The cosmetic and skin care industry uses parabens to help extend the shelf life of their products by keeping them stable in a wide range of temperatures. What Is Sls In Cosmetics Tiege Hanley’s face wash doesn’t use harmful ingredients. We use the highest quality ingredients to keep your facial skin clean and looking amazing!

Triclosan

Triclosan is a chemical which is found in a number of health and beauty products ranging from toothpaste to facial cleansers. Manufacturers use triclosan to extend the shelf life of their products by preventing the growth of bacteria and as a way to increase a product’s antimicrobial properties.

Some toothpaste manufacturers use triclosan as an additive to fight gingivitis. In  several studies involving animals, early findings seem to indicate that triclosan can lower thyroid hormone levels and that there may be a connection between the chemical and an increased chance of developing skin cancer when exposed to UV light,

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Fragrances

The only purpose of adding fragrances to a personal care product is to introduce a more pleasing smell. Most fragrances are semi-volatile to allow the speedy delivery of scents. While there are no practical purposes outside of a pleasant odor, there are indeed reasons why you may want to use products without them.

Some compounds used to create fragrances, specifically those which are petroleum based, are  linked to skin disease, headaches and other health issues. If you wish to avoid using a product free from fragrances, look for one labeled “fragrance-free” since “unscented” products often still contain fragrances.

We hope this information will be useful on your journey to find the best men’s face wash. It’s important to k eep your body and your face healthy, One of the best ways to accomplish this is by avoiding face wash es with potentially harmful ingredients.

That’s why at Tiege Hanley we pride ourselves on using the best ingredients available for taking care of your skin.
For i nstance, instead of using SLS and SLES in our face wash, we use the far superior ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS).
ALS is much more effective at cleanin g the outer lay ers of your facial skin of dirt and grime, without the risk of the product penetrating and reaching the underlying layers of skin, which are much more delicate.

If you would like to give our skin care system a try, you can browse through our website to find all of the relevant information you need,

Is SLS and paraben bad?

Is SLS free shampoo safe?

Are sulfate-free shampoos better for your hair? We have the answer for you What Is Sls In Cosmetics Sulfate-free shampoo: Is it good for everyone? Image courtesy: Shutterstock Updated: 1 Feb 2021, 14:08 pm IST There is an overload of information when it comes to hair care. And if there’s one trend that has taken the industry by storm (or that’s what it seems like), it is the inclination towards sulfate-free products.

Experts suggest that sulfate-free shampoo is the best option for your hair, because it gently cleans your tresses. Even if you don’t believe in this trend, you almost always end up buying sulfate-free products, because they are everywhere today. But what’s the big deal about sulfate-free shampoos, and are they good for you? That’s exactly what we intend to find out in this article.

Are you ready to find out?