SLS and Paraben Free: Meaning, Benefits & How to Choose
Well in India each and very product for instance shampoos contain sls and parbeen. Both of these surfactants are quite damaging to skin and hair on the grounds of the fact that they make skin dry , irritated and in long term use they even damage our skin . But why do companies add these harmful chemicals into their products ? Well the answer is crystal clear , because they are cheap and companies only care about their own profits instead of our health . So be keen and choose wisely .Whenever we buy any product make sure you check ingredients, if ingredients have a very long list of ingredients try to avoid that product. Always check weather product have sls , parabeen , artificial fragrance and artificial colors
Contents
- What Does “SLS and Paraben Free” Mean?
- Why Are People Choosing SLS and Paraben Free Products?
- Benefits of SLS and Paraben Free Products
- Tips for Choosing SLS and Paraben Free Product
What Does “SLS and Paraben Free” Mean?
SLS simply stands for of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It is a cleanser used in shampoos, facewashes, soaps, bodywashes openly because they remove dirt and oil .
Preservatives like methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben make up parabens. They prevent bacterial growth inside the product and hence keep the products safe for months of use.
Hence if a label indicates that a certain item contains no SLS and paraben, then this means that these two compounds do not form part of the product’s ingredients.
Why Are People Choosing SLS and Paraben Free Products?
SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) is one of the most effective cleanser, it cleans scalp and skin effectively. However, for individuals with very sensitive or dry skin, it can dry skin and scalp because it washes off natural oils on the skin and cause dryness. SLS and other sulfates, when used regularly, may have adverse effects on our skin and scalp.
While parabens are common in cosmetics and are approved by health regulatory agencies in the United States and Europe for use in cosmetics, there are studies that show parabens to have hormone-like effects in the body. This is an area where research is still being conducted.
Honesty: “Free from” doesn’t always mean “better.”
Benefits of SLS and Paraben Free Products
- Gentler for sensitive skin. Milder cleansers are less likely to cause dryness, redness and tight feeling after washing as they do not strip away beneficial oils from our scalp.
- Helps protect your skin’s natural moisture. Because the cleansing is gentle on your skin’s natural oils and barrier are less likely to be stripped away.
- Kinder to the scalp and hair. People with very dry or itchy scalp, or with colour-treated hair, often finds it gentle and more comfortable to use than sls and paraben loaded products.
- Peace of mind. If you like to avoid parabens as a precaution, a paraben free product lets you do that without guessing and brings enormous peace .
- Often a more thoughtful formula. Many brands that skip SLS and parabens also pay close attention to the rest of the ingredient list because its not not guaranteed that rest of ingredients are safe , so one should always check.
Tips for Choosing SLS and Paraben Free Product
- Step 1: Do not look for what it is called on the front of the container. “SLS free” is what marketers write on it while the list of ingredients can be found on the back.
- Step 2: Locate the name of the ingredients you need. In case if the product should be free of SLS, make sure that there is no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on the list; at the same time, make sure that nothing on the list ends with “-paraben”.
- Step 3: Look for cleansing ingredients that are milder as there are decyl glucoside, coco glucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine among commonly used ingredients of SLS and Paraben free shampoos.
- Step 4: Ensure that the product suits your skintype and hair before using do a patch test. There is a difference between oily, dry, color-treated and sensitive hair.
- Step 5: Do a patch test before using any product , apply the product on your inner arm for 24 hours before trying it on your face/hair.
- Step 6: Expiry dates and PAO mark on the packaging can provide you with additional information about usability of opened product.
- Step 7: Buy products from reputable dealers in order not to risk your health because of

