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Sulfates - What they do and which ones to avoid..

Sulfates - What they do and which ones to avoid..

When sulfates are talked about in toiletries and cosmetics the writer is usually referring to the foaming ingredient (surfactant) used in the product.  A lot of foaming ingredients made from sulfates are quite strong and these can strip the skin of its natural oil - that's why natural and organic brands avoid sulfates. However when reading ingredient lists there are some exceptions to the "avoid sulfates" rule of thumb.

Recently an organic certifying body (Eco-Cert) approved Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) for use in certified organic toiletries and cosmetics, ALS is much milder than other sulfates and it does not dry out the skin.

Some organic products contain detangling ingredients like behentrimonium methosulfate (from rape seed) and whilst the word "sulfate" appears in the name it is a different type of ingredient to a foaming sulfate and it has a completely different effect on the skin/hair - in this case it's a detangling ingredient which does not cause any drying of the skin.

Foaming sulfates which should be avoided are usually only found in shampoo, body washes and other products with a foaming action.  Examples of these sulfates include:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) 

The last one on the list should not be confused with Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) which is approved by Eco-Cert for use in certified organic products.

All products sold by mypure are free from ALES, SLS & SLES sulfates.  Read more about our mypure promise on chemical ingredients here.

Posted by Sarah Smith


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