Guide · 3 min read
What does sulfate-free mean?
What are SLS and SLES, why do they foam so much, and what do they do to your skin? Why you might choose a sulfate-free product.
foam ≠ clean
What are SLS and SLES?
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are surfactants widely used in shampoos, shower gels and toothpastes. They are cheap, strong and very foamy.
What do they do to your skin?
In tests that measure skin irritation, SLS is used as the standard irritant. In studies, as the SLS dose increases, the skin's water loss rises in a straight line. Strong cleansers remove dirt but also strip the oils from the top layer of the skin; that tight feeling after washing is the sign.
Foam doesn't mean clean
Lots of foam feels nice, but it doesn't show cleansing power. Gentler cleansers remove dirt and oil even if they foam less.
Who should pay attention?
- 1People whose skin feels tight after washing.
- 2People with sensitive or easily flushed skin.
- 3People with an itchy scalp.
- 4People who wash their face and hands several times a day.
Related to this guide
Sources
- 1.Sodium lauryl sulfate and the skin barrier, PubMed 18717861
- 2.Ananthapadmanabhan et al., cleansers and skin lipids, 2013
This article is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If a complaint persists or gets worse, see a dermatologist.