When it comes to bath and body care, what you leave out of your products can be just as important as what you put in. If you’ve ever looked at a label and wondered what ingredients like parabens, SLS, or SLES are doing in your shampoo, body wash, or lotion, you're not alone.
Here's a breakdown of these commonly used ingredients—and why more and more people are choosing products that are free from them.
💧 Parabens: The Preservatives with a Price
What they are:
Parabens (like methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) are synthetic preservatives used to extend shelf life and prevent mold and bacteria growth.
Why they’re used:
They’re cheap, effective, and help keep products stable over time—especially in water-based formulas.
Why you might avoid them:
Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, which has raised concerns about hormone disruption and potential links to breast cancer. While more research is needed, many choose to err on the side of caution and go paraben-free—especially for products used daily.
✅ Look for: “Paraben-free” labels, or preservative alternatives like radish root ferment or potassium sorbate.
🌊 SLS and SLES: The Sudsy Skin Irritants
What they are:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are surfactants that create that familiar lather in soaps, shampoos, and cleansers.
Why they’re used:
They’re excellent at lifting oil and dirt from the skin and hair, which makes products feel “deep-cleaning.”
Why you might avoid them:
These ingredients can strip away natural oils, leaving skin dry, itchy, or irritated. SLS is also a known skin irritant, and SLES—while milder—is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen, during manufacturing.
✅ Look for: Sulfate-free formulas made with plant-based cleansers like coco-glucoside or decyl glucoside for a gentler, non-drying wash. A natural oil that is commonly used in soap to generate suds naturally is Castor Oil (found in all of That Sage Life body bars.)
🧴 Sulfates in General: What’s the Big Deal?
Sulfates (a broader category including SLS, SLES, and others) are used in everything from toothpaste to floor cleaner 😭. In skincare, they help products foam and clean—but at a cost.
Why you might avoid them:
Besides skin irritation, sulfates can disrupt your skin’s protective barrier, cause sensitivity, and even lead to flare-ups for conditions like eczema or rosacea.
✅ For people with sensitive skin, children, or those looking to avoid unnecessary chemical exposure, sulfate-free is a smart, gentle choice.
The Bottom Line: Know What’s in Your Products
In the handmade and small-batch skincare world, there's a strong movement toward cleaner, simpler, and safer ingredients. You don’t need harsh chemicals for your products to work—you just need the right combination of natural oils, gentle surfactants, and plant-based preservatives.
Choosing paraben-free and sulfate-free options means treating your skin with more care—and reducing your exposure to questionable ingredients.
Resources for Further Reading:
Want to treat your skin to handmade bath products that skip the harmful stuff? Explore our natural, small-batch collection crafted with love—and none of the toxic ingredients.