Parabens and Sulfates

Paraben and Sulfates are two of the dirtiest words when it comes to personal care ingredients. For years we have seen every natural and even non-natural company spruiking that their products are 'Paraben and Sulfate free'.

But why?

Ok, so let us break it down and first talk about parabens, where they come from, what they do and why they are so bad for us!

Parabens are used in personal care products as preservatives, inhibiting mould and bacteria growth, which are essential for the longevity of your products; however, there are fantastic natural alternatives, so there is no need to use these, and we suggest cleaning your products up to reduce the risk of their severe side effects.

The biggest issue with parabens is that they can mimic the hormone estrogen, which then disrupts our natural hormone balance. This can cause several things to happen within our body, but one of the most sinister is that hormonal imbalances are linked to increased breast cancer.

Parabens have also been linked to changes in cholesterol levels, brain function, fertility issues, poor immune function, high blood sugar, skin irritations and more. That is a scary list, right?

And because we are predominately a hair care company, we, of course, looked closely into how parabens affect our hair.

As mentioned above, parabens cause an immune response and skin irritations, leading to red, itchy and inflamed skin. And, of course, your scalp is skin too, and unfortunately, healthy hair can't grow from an unhealthy scalp.

Parabens in your shampoo also strip the hair, leaving it dry and damaged.

So, now onto Sulfates. 

Sulphates are used in personal care products as surfactants/foaming agents, and while they don't have as bad of a reputation as parabens, they still need to be better. Again, there are many natural, healthier alternatives.

Sulphate is a salt that forms when sulfuric acid reacts with another chemical. It's a broader term for other synthetic sulphate-based substances you may be concerned about, such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium Laureth sulphate (SLES). These compounds are produced from petroleum and plant sources such as coconut and palm oil. [1] Not only bad for your skin but the environment too.

They are also known to be highly irritating to the eyes, skin and lungs, so they are an ingredient you most definitely do not want in your shampoo!

We are so fortunate to have so many alternatives to these ingredients. For the health of your hair, skin and overall body, we urge you to choose personal care products with no parabens and sulphates.

Source:

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sulfates