Slique says: Is it true that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in facial cleansers is bad for your skin? I find that whenever I use a cleanser with SLS my skin will feel a lil’ bit dry.
The Right Brain responds:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and its cousin Sodium Laureth Ether Sulfate (SLES) are favorite topics here on the Beauty Brains. We’ve blogged before about how they are good cleaners, but they can dry your skin if you’re not careful.
Does that make sulfate based products bad? Not necessarily, because it depends on what else is in the formula. A well formulated product that uses sulfates in combination with milder surfactants or with conditioning agents that prevent the skin from becoming too stripped, are perfectly fine for most people.
So that made us curious – how many face washes DO use sulfates? A quick trip to Drugstore.com shows that none of the top ten brands used SLS, but we did notice that 7 of these 10 used other sulfates to some degree.
So if you’re looking for sulfate free and you want to pick a good face wash, here’s the list of ten face washes ranked from least expensive to most expensive (based on cost per ounce) with all the cleansing agents spelled out .
Skin Milk Face Wash – contains little sulfates
Cost: $0.66/oz
Surfactants: Stearic Acid based soap, Glycereth 26, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Laureth 13 Carboxylate, PEG 100 Stearate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Comments: Stearic acid soaps give a whipped creamy kind of foam.
Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin – contains little sulfates
Cost: $0.75/0z
Surfactants: Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, PEG 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA
Comments: A surprisingly low cost formula considering the range of mild surfactants.
Seabreeze Naturals Foaming Face Wash – contains a lot of sulfates
Cost: $0.75/oz
Surfactants: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Comments:
Basis Clean Face Wash – contains a lot of sulfates
Cost: $0.92/oz
Surfactants: Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG 8, Glyceryl Laurate, PEG 200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate,
Comments: The combination of betaine and laureth sulfate is one of the most popular mixtures for shampoos.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser – contains sulfonates, not sulfates
Cost: $1.08/oz
Surfactants: Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C12-15 Pareth-15 Sulfonate
Comments: This formula will certainly deep clean since it uses sulfonates, a class of surfactants as stripping, if not more stipping, than any of the sulfates.
Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash – contains moderate sulfates
Cost: $1.08/oz
Surfactants: PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine,
Comments: This is essentially a baby shampoo formula.
Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash – contains no sulfates
Cost: $1.15/oz
Surfactants: Castile Soap
Comments: No sulfates to be found but pure soap can also be drying to the skin.
Nature’s Gate Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash – contains a lot of sulfates
Cost: $1.20/oz
Surfactants: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MIPA,
Comments:
Biore Pore Minimizing Foaming Face Wash – contains moderate sulfates
Cost: $1.66/oz
Surfactants: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Isethionate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Comments: Isethionates are very rich foaming and mild to the skin.
Kiss My Face Organics Jump Start Exfolliating Face Wash – contains no sulfates
Cost: $3.25/oz
Surfactants: Decyl Glucoside
Comments: A mild, corn based cleanser but certainly not worth almost 3 times more than Biore, the next most expensive product.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
If you’re looking for a sulfate free face wash, the relatively low levels of SLES in and Skin Milk and Olay look like they’re the best value.
What’s YOUR favorite way to clean your kisser? Leave a comment and share the products you like with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Enough with the “pure soap can be drying” thing. Please please please distinguish between commercial soap and natural soap. Two completely different things. Natural soap is not drying.
Natural soap can be drying depending on how it is formulated. What defines “pure soap” anyway? Water + Sodium Hydroxide + Fats/Oils = Soap & Glycerin. If you add too much Sodium Hydroxide + other factors, you could end up with a drying soap.
Well put, Lisa! We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves!
Right, but I was talking about a properly balanced natural soap. The difference being that most commercial companies take the glycerin out, making their soap drying to the skin.
Removing glycerin doesn’t make a soap automatically drying. There are other humectants that can be added to soap.
I suppose tt means that by saying “pure soap can be drying” may mislead everyone into thinking all soaps are drying. And this is not the case.
I too am curious as to what “pure soap” is supposed to mean.
If this “Water + Sodium Hydroxide + Fats/Oils = Soap & Glycerin” is your definition then that alone is no guarantee that pure soap will be drying to skin.
My definition of “pure soap” is natural, handmade soap which is sufficiently superfatted (say 5% or more) and contains its natural glycerin. They end up being far less milder to use for cleansing than commercial soaps.
Often, we find that commercial soaps may contain perfumes or other fillers and surfactants that may irritate the skin. Thus, not “pure”.
I read in Prevention magazine (they have the article up here, for reference; http://buzz.prevention.com/clear-skin-for-grown-ups/ ) that the best things for clear skin/face treatment are Salicylic acid, retinoids, and humectants. Is this true? What face wash would you recommend for these elements?
neutrogena deep clean facial cleanser is best for oily skin types. very good.
the pricing for desert essence can be way cheaper like 32 oz list price of $12.49 at which would be around $0.39/oz.
the anti-sodium lauryl sulfate craze is actually due to the suspicion that it is a carcinogen. That’s cancer folks, not dry skin.
I use Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap., it contains only three ingredients Saponified Olive Oil, Water and Sodium , this is totally non drying.
Look on the Web there are lots of Natural Cleaners you can make at home , with ingredients such as yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Worries about harmful ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
and other chemicals are a thing of the past.
I am allergic to sulfa and am beginning to think that the skin on my face (and scalp, for that matter) are constantly dry because most commercial facial soaps and shampoos contain sulfates.
I’m going to try going sulfate free with the “Yes to Carrots” line and see if that agrees with my skin. I might also try Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap. Glad I dropped by!
I’m tired of being flaky!
i can’t seem to find the right kind of face wash, my skin is oily.
i tried clean and clear, but it never cleaned and cleared my skin!
i also tried velocity, but it still didn’t work!
Is arbonne a good type of face wash for me?
I bought the Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin based on high ratings by Paula Begoun. Loved the texture and how light it was yet very effective. However, I have an allergy to sulfa in general and even the very little sulfate that was in here made my face break out in HIVES.
I am looking for something similar to this Olay but without the sulfates… any help?
I 49YRS OLD I WANT FACE WASH WITH ARINKLE CONTROL PL SUGGEST ME GOOD PRODUCT.
im using this product evryday as protection from uva/uvb.its a make up base.ingredients are -water,dimethicone copolyol, squalane,ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate,cyclopentasiloxane,aloe barbadensis extract,jojoba ester,proplyene glycol,titanium dioxide,horse chesnut extract,citris acid,peg-6,silk protein,zinc oxide,bee wax,hyaluronic acid,diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate,dimethicone,chlorphenesin,polypeptide,allantoin,magnesium sulfate,essence.what do u think of the ingredients?is it safe?is it will make my skin ageing faster?
what do you all think of Purpose Cleanser???
i am allergic to sulfa and i need a realy good face wash, im 22 and my acne seems to have gotten worse. now its my chest, back, neck, and scalp. not just my face anymore. i hate this their bigger redder and slow healing. im going to try the kiss my face product but any other suggestions?, please!!!!
im a mom i dont need to look like a teenager any more… i need help.
Yes Yes I’m not alone.I am alergic to any sulfa .( food ,,meds otc ,Washs etc) I’ve been going to a dermatolgist for 4 years no one can help. need to start elimanting thing myself. any more helpful hints??
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