When it comes to skincare, what you avoid is just as important as what you use. This is why we often take the time to educate our community on different ingredients to avoid in skincare, such as phthalates, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, petroleum-based ingredients, and artificial fragrances.

If you're scanning ingredient lists on your favourite face wash, two names that might frequently pop up are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). These foaming agents are common in cleansers, but they’re not doing your skin any favours. Let’s break it down so you can make the best choice to help your complexion glow! 

What are SLS & SLES?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are surfactants, meaning they help break down oils and create that satisfying lather in cleansers, shampoos, and even household cleaning products. While they’re effective at removing dirt and excess oil, they can often be way too harsh, especially for the delicate skin on your face.

Why you should skip SLS & SLES for your skin

Do you think your face needs the same level of cleansing as your dirty dishes? Definitely not! Let’s examine why SLS and SLES should be left in 2024!

1. They strip your skin’s natural oils 

SLS and SLES are powerful cleansers, but that’s the problem—they don’t just cleanse; they strip. These lathering agents work by essentially stripping the skin of its natural oils. Your skin has a natural lipid barrier that helps maintain moisture and protect against irritation. 

While regular cleansing is important to remove debris and some excess oil, we want to avoid stripping the skin as this can lead to an overproduction of even more oil to try to balance it out. For those with acne, these cleansing agents can contribute to more breakouts. Additionally, sulfates can damage that important skin barrier, leading to skin that is tight, dry, and prone to irritation, sensitivity, and redness

2. They can trigger sensitivity & irritation

If you have sensitive skin, SLS and SLES are not your friends. These ingredients are known irritants and can cause redness, itching, and inflammation, especially if you already experience conditions like rosacea or eczema. As mentioned above, they can do this by interfering with the skin barrier, but they can often also disrupt the skin microbiome. Supporting the delicate ecosystem that makes up your skin microbiome is important for preventing itchy, dry, flaky skin that is prone to acne and other uncomfortable skin conditions.

3. They can disrupt the skin's pH

We’ve written before about how the skin maintains a slightly acidic pH of roughly 4.5 to 5.75, which is important for protecting the skin barrier and skin microbiome mentioned above. However, both SLES and SLS are highly alkaline and can shift your skin’s pH from its preferred acidic state. The acidity of this barrier provides a natural defense that helps the skin retain moisture while keeping pollution, microbes, viruses, and other potential contaminants out. If the pH levels get too high and start trending more towards a neutral or alkaline level, you may start to experience skin issues.

4. SLES may be contaminated

While both of these surfactants can be harsh to the skin, there is an extra concern with SLES: contamination. Due to a manufacturing process called ethoxylation, SLES can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen. While most companies do attempt to refine out the 1.4-dioxane, some trace amounts can still remain, which can add up with repeated daily use over years!

Glow-getting skincare swaps

You don’t need harsh sulfates to get clean, glowing skin! In fact, if that’s your goal, then we suggest ditching them in favour of skincare that is gentle and effective. While some other clean skincare lines might use more natural versions of SLS and SLES, such as sodium coco sulfate or sodium cocoyl isethionate, we do not suggest them since they can still strip the skin, cause damage to the skin barrier and skin microbiome, and negatively affect your skin’s pH.

Instead, opt for a gentle, organic, and functional plant-based formula that respects your skin’s natural balance, like our fan fave, Fresh Face Cleanser. We’ve got a whole post outlining the incredible skin-loving benefits of our Fresh Face Cleanser, but here are some highlights:

• Sulfate-free: No SLS, SLES, or harsh detergents. Instead, we use organic vegetable glycerin, which acts as a humectant to draw moisture to the skin, while saponified coconut and sunflower oil gently cleanse the skin to remove makeup, dirt, and debris, without drying skin.
• Nourishing ingredients: Packed with organic golden jojoba oil, comfrey root, and chamomile extract to soothe skin and promote healthy skin tone.
• pH-balanced
• Protects the skin barrier: Cleanses without stripping away essential oils and moisture.
• For all skin types: Whether you have dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, this cleanser is safe and effective!

Switching to a sulfate-free face wash is a small but powerful step towards healthier skin. Your face deserves the best, so ditch the harsh surfactants and embrace a gentle, glow-getting routine!