Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is derived from palm kernel oil or coconut oil, it is a surfactant, which basically means it has an effect on the surfaces it touches.

Uses

Sodium laureth sulfateis used in cosmetics as a detergent and also to make products bubble and foam. It is common in shampoos, shower gels and facial cleansers. It is also found in household cleaning products, like dish soap.

Safety

Tests in the US indicate that it is safe for consumer use. The Australian government's Department of Health and Ageing and its National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) have determined that SLES does not react with DNA.^[1]

Side effects

Like many other detergents, SLES is an irritant. It has been shown that SLES causes eye or skin irritation in experiments conducted on animals and humans. The related surfactant SLS is also a known irritant.

Regulatory Status

Ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane are prohibited on Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. However, the Hotlist does not control for the presence of these chemicals as contaminants. 1,4-dioxane was recently assessed under the government's Chemicals Management Plan but Health Canada and Environment Canada concluded that the chemical did not meet the legal definition of "toxic" because estimated exposure levels were considered to be lower than those that might constitute a danger to human health. The assessment noted uncertainty in the exposure estimates"due to the limited information on the presence or concentrations of the substance in consumer products available in Canada.” ^[2]

References

[1]NICNAS SLES animal test". Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2013.

[2]Environment Canada and Health Canada. Screening Assessment for the Challenge: 1,4-Dioxane. March 2010.