SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Another name for this chemical is sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and included in this substance group is also sodium coco sulfate (SCS), as it partly consists of SLS, thus shares a similar structure and risks.

Is sodium lauryl sulfate bad for you?

So, the first question, is sodium lauryl sulfate bad for you? The Ingredient Scanner says Yes. Here are 3 arguments why.

Firstly, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) classifies SLS as:

“harmful if swallowed, causes serious eye damage, is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects, is a flammable solid, is harmful if inhaled, causes skin irritation and may cause respiratory irritation.”

Secondly, it is likely that SLS contain inexpensive palm or coconut oil. Palm oil is a controversial ingredient as its cultivation cause environmental destruction, animal extinction and serious health concerns for the people working and living in the vicinity.

Unfortunately, it is normally not possible to check what kind of oil is used by just looking at the list of ingredients. Consequently, our Ingredient Scanner classifies this as contamination as it is “hidden” within the ingredient.

Preferably, it is stated on the product or in the product description if it is “palm oil-free” (or contain organically sourced oil). And if you can not find it, you can choose from two options:

1. Assume that the product contains palm oil. Marketers know that a “free of”-stamp is powerful and will likely drive more sales and will, therefore, add it whenever and wherever it is possible.
2. Ask the manufacturer, call or email, or go to their website to find out how they source their ingredients.

Thirdly, sodium lauryl sulfate chemical formula makes it a harsh cleansing agent in cosmetic* products. For many, it is much too aggressive.

In fact, all products containing sulfates are known to be very effective cosmetic cleansers. It does not only remove dirt but is also liley to strip body, skin, and scalp of its natural essential oils.

Is sodium lauryl sulfate bad for hair?

Yes. By cleaning so aggressively sodium lauryl sulfate shampoo damages hair, makes hair dry and also strips color of colored hair faster.

Is sodium lauryl sulfate bad for your skin?

Yes. Apart from making skin unnecessary dry, the ingredients are also known for causing skin, scalp and eye irritation.

Therefore, even if you can handle products containing SLS on your skin, it is advisable to switch to a milder alternative. Mainly to avoid developing sodium lauryl sulfate allergy or irritation later.

Sodium lauryl sulfate vs. Sodium laureth sulfate – what is the difference?

As we now know, SLS can be a harsh ingredient. So what the chemists did, to make it less irritatingand aggresive, was to add another chemical called ethylene oxide to SLS. This process is called ethoxylation.

In this process, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) becomes sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).

However, while the ethoxylation makes the chemical, in this case SLS, milder it also leaves trace amounts of the toxic ethylene oxide. The ethoxylation also creates another toxic by-product, the chemical 1,4- dioxane. Both by-product chemicals are carcinogenic.

So while SLES is milder and less aggressive than SLS in the instant that you are using a product that contains it, in the long term, it can cause more serious adverse effects.