Sodium lauryl sulfate – or SLS according to the English term sodium lauryl sulfate. A complex and cumbersome word, as typical in chemical jargon. And often these complex and cumbersome words do not mean anything good. At least with this word, there is something wrong – and we explain why.
Brusher, we live in times when we must be very careful about what we apply to our skin, hair, or teeth. In fact, in many cosmetic products, we find substances that due to their harmful effects on the body and the environment should no longer be used.
One of these substances is sodium lauryl sulfate in our toothpastes. A product with a well-defined task and a specific effect.
But as often happens: there is something that does not add up one hundred percent – and we feel obliged to give you a reason why.
What is sodium lauryl sulfate?
SLS is a chemical compound that, thanks to its cleansing effect, was used in bubble baths and shampoos. Furthermore, we still find it today in creams and lotions where it acts as an emulsifier. Due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties, it is also added to toothpastes.
As in bubble baths, it also forms the characteristic foam in toothpaste that cannot be missed when we bathe or brush our teeth. Without foam, the product is not worth it – well, that's not entirely true. In fact, regarding SLS, it would be better to do without the foam in our mouths or on our skin.
What are the negative properties of SLS?
SLS is a surfactant whose main property is to dissolve grease from surfaces. That's why we often find SLS in cleaning products, including toothpaste. But there is a problem with surfactants: they do not limit themselves to dissolving only what they should dissolve – they remove all the grease they find along the way.
This causes skin irritations as the substance degreases and dries out the skin. Redness, itching, and burning are the result.
The same story applies to brushing teeth. Due to SLS, small white ulcers form in our oral cavities, called canker sores – annoying and painful.
If by chance you are shopping and holding a toothpaste, check the label and look for the English term sodium lauryl sulfate. If you find it, put it back on the shelf. There are healthier and more ecological alternatives.
Why is SLS bad for the environment?
The environment does not suffer from minimal doses of SLS. However, if the doses increase, it affects aquatic life.
A big problem, brusher! Because if everyone brushes their teeth twice a day, subsequently high doses accumulate in the wastewater, which in turn is released into the natural water cycle.
What are the alternatives?
So it is up to you to avoid products with added SLS. Fortunately, in the cosmetic sector – unlike the food sector – chemical ingredients must be indicated with their chemical term.
So: if you find these three magic words – sodium lauryl sulfate – on the label, refrain from purchasing the product. There are alternatives without SLS.
We recommend natural products like those from promis. Our toothpastes are not only free of microplastics and both the content and packaging are composed of 99% biodegradable substances – they also lack SLS.
Buy now our SLS-free toothpaste.