Soap Additives

[MrsC]

Hi all

just wondering if anyone else is concerned with chemical additives?

[zazen999]

I don't use soap - but as it is made from Caustic Soda it's pretty chemically from the get go!

[MrsC]

I was thiking more about chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate etc added to most shampoos, shower gels, soaps etc

[Crundy]

I was thiking more about chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate etc added to most shampoos, shower gels, soaps etc

Which one's which (sodium lauryl / laureth sulphate)? I know one is quite a harsh, almost caustic detergent and the other isn't, but I can't remember which.

[Bramble_killer]

Which one's which (sodium lauryl / laureth sulphate)? I know one is quite a harsh, almost caustic detergent and the other isn't, but I can't remember which.

Both are irritants.
Sodium lauryl sulfate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sodium laureth sulfate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But you don't need them to make soap

[Crundy]

Hi all

just wondering if anyone else is concerned with chemical additives?

Depends what the additive is. People use "additive" (esp about foods) as if it's a four letter word. Did you watch the program recently about E numbers on the tellybox?

My favorite is MSG. My sister-in-law actually referred to it as a "poison". Presumably without realising it's just a salt of a non-essential amino acid (glutamic acid). She also didn't realise that some foods are naturaly high in glutamic acid, like marmite, broccoli, parmesan, fish sauce, tomatoes, meat, fish (well, just about everything actually). Using MSG isn't poisoning, it's just cheating.

[smallblueplanet]

Both are irritants.
Sodium lauryl sulfate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sodium laureth sulfate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But you don't need them to make soap

Indeed. It's stunning the numbers and variety of products they're in...

[Crundy]

Yeah, there are three main types of soap: Lipid derived (adding a hydroxide salt to fat), lauryl / laureth sulphate, and glycerol based soap. AFAIK glycerol is the mildest.

[MrsC]

Don't understand why my original thread about soap additives has been merged with this one? Please explain, someone

[zazen999]

It was merged because at the exact same time there was another thread all about soap......

However I have moved yours back out so that you can continue the debate if you wish.

[MrsC]

It was merged because at the exact same time there was another thread all about soap......

However I have moved yours back out so that you can continue the debate if you wish.

Thanks Zazen, sorry didn't realise

[MrsC]

Anyway, back to SLS. Only realised since making my own soap etc etc etc the effects of SLS. I got my homemade soap in my eyes the other night and it didn't sting like normal soap, I assume because it's SLS free. Since using I have not needed to use moisturers etc and even now wash my hair with it, guess what no conditioner. Just thought I'd share this

[smallblueplanet]

Check your toothpaste, its in that too. I use a lot of Weleda stuff...

Home at Weleda

[MrsC]

Check your toothpaste, its in that too. I use a lot of Weleda stuff...

Home at Weleda

Thanks for that link, I've checked everything it's in, no more SLS for me

[Bramble_killer]

Thanks for that link, I've checked everything it's in, no more SLS for me

it's a popular non-ionic surfactant so it'll be in loads that you don't realise too (or I'm teaching a granny to suck eggs), washing up liquid, washing powder etc. Anything that is used for cleaning will have something similar to it.