Chances are a lot, if not all, of your beauty products include sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent used in shampoos, body and face washes, and toothpaste.
Most of us equate foam with cleanliness, but surprise: it's also a skin irritant.
"SLS is a skin irritant for a huge number of people and is one of the leading causes of perioral and periocular dermatitis (red, flaky skin on eyelids and around the nose and mouth)," said Villafranco.
"It is used in almost all shampoos, except the ones at Whole Foods Market and a few emerging natural luxury brands. It's inexpensive, especially compared to the less toxic alternatives, so it will likely take a while to phase out of use in the mainstream market."
If you're ready to go SLS-free, be sure that your replacement doesn't use an ingredient that is just as toxic.
