What is SLS and why is it best to buy SLS-free products?

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a surfactant used in many household and cosmetic products. It has extraordinary foaming abilities and is a powerful cleaning agent.

The amount of foam that SLS in cosmetics creates can con the user into thinking it is a wonderful cleansing product, and while it might feel great, there really isn’t any need for all that foam. A bar of normal soap will clean just as well.

SLS has had a bad reputation for a while now and many consumers choose not to buy products which contain it. There is no evidence that this agent causes ill health or cancer but it can irritate sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, so it is best avoided by those who suffer such conditions. 

From an environmental point of view it is also an unnecessary additive that our waterways really don’t need. So apart from its lovely foaming abilities it is not an essential ingredient for most products and so it should be avoided by the environmentally minded consumer. Fortunately there are many household and beauty products now available on the market and the consumer has the freedom to choose the alternatives.