Frequently Asked Questions
SLS is an acronym for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It’s an ingredient found in about 90% of shampoos on the market (including tear-free baby shampoos) as well as in toothpastes.
Cosmetics manufacturers use SLS because it’s cheap and it produces a lot of foam that gives a clean feeling. But what these manufacturers are not telling us is that SLS is a very harsh detergent. And acrid. SLS is used to scrub floors in garages and industrial plants, as a grease remover from engines and as a detergent for washing cars.
When used for a long time SLS causes cancer. What’s perhaps worse is that manufacturers are aware of this, yet they continue to use it to produce impressively foamy products. They are well acquainted with the findings of studies, which all the way back in the 1980s proved that the chance of developing cancer was 1 in 8,000. In the 1990s, further studies put the number at 1 in 3 – an alarming development.
In addition to cancer, SLS accumulates in the heart, liver, lungs and brain and can impair the function of these organs. When it comes in contact with the skin, it may delay wound healing processes, cause skin infections and dysfunction, and hair loss. It impairs hair ability to grow. Children under the age of 6 are particularly vulnerable when they come in contact with this substance and it’s likely to impair the development of their eyes.
Parabens are chemicals that are used as preservatives and are found in most cosmetic products – deodorants, soaps, creams and other skin care products that we all use on a daily basis. This family of substances includes methyl, ethyl and propyl-paraben.
The inconvenient truth is, cosmetics products usually consist of 80% water and 15% oil. The combination of these two substances creates fertile ground for the formation of bacteria and fungi, which cause decay within a few days. To prevent this and to prolong shelf life, preservatives are added.
And yes, all these preservatives are absorbed quickly through the skin into the body, and from there straight into the bloodstream.
In July 2016, the Israeli Ministry of Health received guidelines from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and issued an immediate directive to significantly reduce the amount of preservatives in toiletries in the Israeli market. Do you know why?
Because these are toxic substances that we use daily that penetrate the body, irritate the skin and cause skin sensitivities and allergies. Moreover, these are found to be cancerous pathogens, leading especially to breast cancer. (Studies have found a link between the local and daily use of cosmetic products, especially deodorants in the armpit area, and the development of breast cancer).
In recent years, we have seen a steep increase in breast cancer in Western countries, as well as a disproportionate appearance of cancer in the parts of the breast adjacent to the armpit, which may indicate a link to the Western lifestyle.
Plus, parabens mimic estrogen – and there is a scientific consensus that the activity of estrogen and similar agents greatly impacts the development of breast cancer.
New studies have found that in addition to mimicking estrogen, parabens interfere with the activity of estrogen sulfotransferase and prevent the breakdown of estrogen (butyl paraben is found to be the most harmful) and thus cause an increase in the amount of natural estrogen. Following this finding, it has been speculated, in these studies, that the temporary beneficial actions of some of the cosmetic products may simply be due to an increase in the concentration of estrogen in the skin. Another study found that methyl paraben can cause skin damage including cancerous changes through the joint action of sunlight and various skin enzymes.
Silicone belongs to the polymer family – a synthetic compound that’s characterized by high viscosity and heat resistance. It’s used in many industries such as automotive, coatings and others, as well as in the cosmetics and hair products industry. It’s found in shampoos, conditioners, hair styling creams, serums and more.
Synthetic silicone is also present in many face, body, and hand creams and often appears on the ingredient list as Cyclomethicone / DIMETHICONE. When used on the skin, it softens it and gives it a smooth and pleasant feeling of moisture. When used on the hair, it locks split ends, giving the hair a uniform and shiny look.
As mentioned above, silicone is made of synthetic materials i.e. chemicals that cover the hair from the root to the tip, plus the skin of the scalp. The body’s contact with this chemical can cause a lot of damage. As silicone can accumulate in the body; it is best to avoid it as much as possible.
Silicone is found in most hair and body products, which are right there on the shelves. Even if you do not pick a “silicone serum,” silicone finds its way to your hair through shampoos, conditioners, masks, creams and other products.
Silicone gives hair a shiny and flexible look, but in reality, what it does is seal the hair, lock the moisture in, and not allow the hair to absorb or release moisture. The result is heavier strands hidden under the silicone layer which get drier and tend to break and split.
Although silicone gives a vital look, it causes the hair to “magnetize” dust and dirt that cling to it. This further weighs the hair down leading to hair loss.
The use of a shampoo that contains silicone causes not only the hair to be coated with silicone but also the scalp. This means the skin on the scalp cannot breathe or excrete moisture properly.
Peeling the silicone coating from the scalp we sometimes see scales, which causes us to purchase even more aggressive products that offer false peeling solutions. Most of the silicone materials available on the market are insoluble and therefore do not come off easily through washing. Therefore, even when you switch to a natural shampoo, it takes several days of washing to get rid of the chemical residues on the hair and scalp.
It is important to note that because of the coating of the skin, the skin’s blocked ability to breathe, and the sealing of bacteria and infections on the skin, silicone products are also associated with appearance of problems such as infectious acne and other skin problems.