Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a common ingredient found in most skin care products, including soaps, shampoos, and facial cleansers. It is the ingredient that makes the product foam and lather and is very similar to a detergent. It’s one of the ingredients that makes conventional skin care products fairly inexpensive. It is used in many facial cleansers because of its ability to dissolve oil. The FDA considers this product safe. However, one should still be cautious with the use of this product because it has been shown to irritate skin and eyes. As the name implies this is a chemical, not a naturally occurring ingredient. If a product contains a high amount of Sodium Laureth Sulfate the higher your chances of causing irritation.
If you have oily skin, you might enjoy the benefits of using sodium laureth sulfate in your facial cleanser because it makes your skin feel clean. The problem arises when you remove too much oil and ultimately this leads to dry skin. Not everyone will experience irritation, but if you notice dry skin developing this chemical should be avoided. If you care about using natural and organ skin care products then you should avoid products that contain this altogether. Instead, look for products that contain natural foaming agents.