What are Sulfates?
Sulfates are a type of detergent, and one of the most common chemicals found in our household cleaning products, but Sulfates are also found in our favourite hair and beauty products (shock, horror).
Sulfates are surfectants that can attract both oil and water, now stick with us here (excuse the pun) as we know it’s a lot to take in. Let us put it plainly… Sulfates lift the dirt and grease of off our hair. Yep, the nice soft and white, or grey (if your hair is really dirty) lather that we love the feel of while slathering on the overly generous recommended amount of shampoo to our tresses, well it’s the Sulfates that cause that lather.
Now, so far, this all doesn’t sound so bad does it? It’s cheap, it cleans, and it makes bubbles, how could we go wrong eh? Well, as well as being good at removing build up from our hair and scalp, it also strips our hair of its natural protective oils, which can lead to dry and brittle hair. The most common type of Sulfates found in shampoos are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) which can cause irritation and itching.
Should I use a Sulfate-free Shampoo?
Many people will not see any disadvantages to using a shampoo that contains Sulfates and would actually prefer to use a shampoo that cleans their hair and scalp with minimal effort, rather than using a Sulfate-free shampoo that you may need to use more rigorously and more often to achieve the same results. However, we do recommend using Sulfate-free hair and beauty products if you have sensitive skin or suffer from skin conditions such as eczema.
What are Parabens?
Parabens are a group of compounds that are used as preservatives in the pharmaceutical, foods, and you guessed it, cosmetic industry. In a nutshell, its an anti-fungal compound that extends the shelf life of some of the products we use. Yes, Parabens are preservatives, but they don’t preserve us, so don’t expect them to keep you young and supple for the rest of your days… they are product preservatives, not people preservatives.
Some Parabens are created by nature, but the ones found in our shampoos are unfortunately synthetic, which is how Parabens have gotten their negative rap. A study involving 20 women found traces of Parabens in the breast tissue of 19 of these women, which proved that Parabens were able to penetrate the skin. However, the study did not prove that Parabens were the cause of the cancer found in the women. Another study reported that Parabens were found in sea animals which is believed to come from the cosmetic products that we wash into our sewage system, which then enters the sea.
At the time of writing this, there is yet to be any hard proof that Parabens are bad for us and the amount used in our everyday hair and beauty products to preserve them is small.
Should I use a Paraben-free shampoo?
Really, it’s a matter of choice. Its up to the individual whether they use Paraben-free products or not, but there are now a number of hair and beauty brands who use alternative preservatives that are equally effective, so there really is no need to take the risk.
No Mineral oil!
Along with Parabens and Sulfates, Mineral Oil has also been added to the list of ingredients we are encouraged to avoid when choosing our hair and beauty products, but what is Mineral Oil and the big hoo-ha about it.
Mineral Oil is a by-product of gasoline and petroleum that has been refined for cosmetic use. Mineral oil is colourless and odourless after processing. In our personal care products, Mineral Oil contributes to making our hair and skin feel smooth by acting as a lubricant and moisturiser.
So, what’s oil the fuss?
How can you go wrong with something that’s going to contribute to that glow we all seek? Well, it’s said that because of Mineral Oils large molecules, it prevents our skin from breathing, by clogging our pores and sitting on the skin. So, if this doesn’t sit right with you, you might want to opt for hair and beauty products that contain natural plant oils instead, such as, Almond, Olive, Pomegranate, Coconut or Argan Oil.
Phalates (pronounced Fal-ate)
Phalates are used to soften plastics and can be found in everyday products like food packaging, toys, shower curtains and hair and beauty products, the list is never ending. Phalates are used to enhance the texture and fragrance of products, including shampoos, nail varnish and hair sprays.
Now here’s where it goes wrong
Research has shown that Phalates disrupt the function of our reproductive and hormonal systems as their chemical structure can mock human hormones. Many countries now have strict regulations on the use of Phalates because of some of the harmful risks connected to them, but beware of products that list “fragrance” in their ingredients list, which can often include hidden Phalates.
So, there you have it, that’s the 411 on products labelled, Sulfate-free, Paraben-free, No Mineral Oil and No Phalates.