(Non)Natural Ingredients in Natural Cosmetics: Foaming Agents

Any natural cosmetics are definitely better than conventional ones, at least when it comes to their impact on our health and the natural environment. However, even among them, you can find a herd of black sheep whose advertisements and descriptions proclaim that they are crafted by nature, but often contain a large number of ingredients whose naturalness is at least debatable. Can you recognize them?

The Powerful Force of Foam?

If you find yourself at the wildest foam party every evening in your bathroom, you might want to check the organizers. If the whole show is run by Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), then you might as well ask for a refund. This foaming agent is often found at the top of the ingredient list in most conventional or pharmacy shampoos and shower gels, so be cautious. It promises you grand entertainment but may bring health problems instead. It is one of the cheapest ingredients, so it’s wise to consider the price of the product that contains it. Quality ingredients deserve a higher price, not inferior ones.

More Natural Alternatives to Foaming Agents

Better options are foaming agents derived from natural substances such as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate or Sodium Coco Sulfate or Sulfoacetate. While they are allowed in natural and even organic certified cosmetics, this doesn’t change the fact that the main ingredient of the product is a prefabricated substance. Declared purely natural ingredients like oils and herbs are fighting for the last available spots on the dance floor.

Disadvantages of Prefabricated Ingredients

Ingredients derived from natural substances can, as a trade-off for comfortable use, bring a number of problems:

They can still cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, or other skin issues for more sensitive skin.
They go through a lengthy production chain from the plants themselves through industrial production to processing in the final product. Industrial production is usually not eco-friendly and burdens the environment.
The source of prefabricated ingredients is often not only coconut oil but also palm oil. It is advisable to completely avoid synthetic surfactants, and with natural ones, it is difficult to trace their origin, cultivation method of the source plant, and production. For instance, it can be assumed that they come from conventional sources of palm oil, which, as you surely know, are very destructive to the environment.
These and similar substances take up space in the product that could be used for truly valuable and pure ingredients.

Shampoo Bar vs. Soap Shampoo

A flagship representative of foaming agents or surfactants in natural products is the shampoo bar. It is very popular among people because it meets the zero waste criterion, foams beautifully, and generally retains the properties of a conventional shampoo. Why is this the case? Because the main ingredient of the shampoo bar is precisely the granulated foaming agents. They can leave a pleasant feeling on the hair, making it easy to comb, but what about your hands and scalp? Will they not be dry and irritated after use, just like with conventional synthetic soap?

An excellent alternative to shampoo bars and shower gels are soaps and soap shampoos, which, although perhaps not as comfortable to use and requiring some learning, provide the skin and hair with the necessary care without burdening the environment.

Soap naturally foams and cleans due to its composition. It is the basic and historically longest-used surfactant, which – simply put – dissolves dirt in combination with water (just like cleaning and laundry agents).

While in liquid gels and shampoos, as well as conventional soaps and shampoo bars, the basic cleansing function is ensured by prefabricated granules or flakes, in soaps and shampoos made by the cold process, impurities are removed using salts of pure vegetable oils that have undergone a chemical saponification process only in our laboratory. A soap shampoo will provide you with a fulfilling experience, leaving you satisfied, healthy, and with a clean karma, shield, and dazzlingly beautiful hair.