Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the difference between sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), and is one safer than the other?
2) What [A’kin] or [Al’chemy] products would suit me?
3) Is it safe to use products with essential oils during pregnancy?
4) I have Eczema. Which products can you recommend I use?
5) Why is "propylene glycol" used in cosmetics and is it safe?
6) What are parabens?
7) Do your products contain alcohol?
8) I am allergic to nuts. Do any of your products contain nuts?
9) Can coeliacs use [Al’chemy] shampoos & conditioners?
10) What products contain hydrolysed wheat protein?
11) Do your products have an expiry date?
1) What is the difference between sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), and is one safer than the other?
SLS is a surface-active substance, or surfactant. These are the workhorses of cosmetics and toiletries. Surfactants are made up of an oil-loving “head”, which imbeds into dirt impregnated oil, and water-loving “tail”, which aids in washing the dirt away.
There are three main types of surfactants used in personal care products.
- Cleansers
- Emulsifiers
- Solubilisers
SLS and SLES are primary cleansers. They are usually combined with gentler secondary cleansers. On their own, they are too strong. Both are made from palm oil. However, within the water-loving tail, we find a significant difference between the two.
Both cleansers are made by “sulphating” palm oil. However SLES undergoes a further reaction, to modify its properties. Although making it a little less strong, there are significant drawbacks.
Some chemical reactions result in the formation of toxic impurities. In the case of SLES, this further “ethoxylation” reaction leads to the presence of varying amounts of both unreacted ethylene oxide, and 1,4-dioxane (which forms when two ethylene oxides join). Both of these impurities are toxic, suspected of being carcinogenic, and of major concern to cosmetic safety regulators.
The Purist Company recommends avoiding products containing SLES (or the ammonium equivalent) for reason of the presence of these so-called “objectionable trace impurities”.
SLS should also be avoided, as it is a primary irritant. SLS is used as an irritancy “standard”, against which the irritancy of other chemicals is compared. Pre-treatment of the skin with SLS has been shown to cause the skin to become more susceptible to irritation from other ingredients.
Ammonium lauryl sulfate belongs to the same family of cleansers as SLS, however it has been shown to be even more irritant than SLS.
2) What [A’kin] or [Al’chemy] products would suit me?
The first step is to identify your own skin type. If you know your skin type, please refer to the product page and click on any product range on our website and download the easy product selection guide (appears on the left of your screen).
3) Is it safe to use products with essential oils during pregnancy?
The concentrations of oils in The Purist Company products are safe for use during pregnancy. However to ensure your comfort and peace of mind, we recommend you check with your general medical practitioner.
4) I have Eczema. Which products should I use?
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition of the upper layers of the skin. The most common things that will trigger eczema are allergies, both food and environmental, as well as emotional and physical stress and climatic changes. The three main common features of eczema that distinguish it from other ailments are dry skin, sore rash and itchiness.
For eczema sufferers, The Purist Company recommends products with least irritancy. Whilist we recommend these products, please remember that each person is unique. We advise for very sensitive skins that you use our testers provided in-store to patch test your skin.
Try any of the following:
5) Why is Propylene Glycol used in cosmetics and is it safe?
Propylene glycol is an ingredient used in numerous cosmetics and toiletries. It is also used as a powerful solvent to prevent creams from drying out. Propylene glycol is a petrochemical derivative and has been shown to cause allergies.
Propylene glycol is not used in any products created by The Purist Company.
6) What are parabens?
Parabens are the most commonly used preservative in cosmetic, personal care and toiletry products. Research has shown that parabens mimic the function of the naturally ocurring hormone, estrogen. Parabens are only estrogenic when applied externally, therefore could be of great concern from cosmetics when applied to the skin. On behalf of consumer safety, The Purist Company have taken the additional precaution of avoiding using ingredients which have been preserved with parabens.
7) Do your products contain alcohol?
The Purist Company do not use what is commonly called alcohol (actual name is ethanol or ethyl alcohol) in any of our formulations. The reference to “alcohol” on our labels refers to the wax alcohols, behenyl alcohol (made from rapeseed oil) or cetearyl alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is made from various vegetable oils such as palm and coconut. They bear little relation to common alcohol, which is a volatile liquid.
8) I am allergic to nuts. Do any of your products contain nuts?
The following products contain small amounts of nut oils to which some people may have an allergy.
9) Can Coeliacs use [Al’chemy] shampoos & conditioners?
Coeliac Disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a genetically based permanent intolerance to dietary gluten. The Coeliac Society of NSW have confirmed the external application of gluten (such as hydrolysed wheat protein used in [Al’chemy] hair car products) is not a concern for people diagnosed with coeliac disease as gluten must be ingested and reach the small bowel for problems to occur.
10) What products contain hydrolysed wheat protein?
All of our formulations are wheat gluten free, with the exception of:
11) Do your products have an expiry date?
Our [Al’chemy] and [A’kin] products have a minimum shelf life of 3 years and once opened the products should be used within 12 months.
If your questions have not been answered, please email us.
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