FAQ's

PLEASE NOTE: NONE OF THE PRODUCTS IN THE ‘MRS FRISBEE’S ALL NATURALS’ RANGE CONTAIN SLS, SLES OR PARABENS.

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to ‘foam up’. Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.However, SLES has been shown to produce eye or skin irritation in experiments on animals and in some human test subjects.

SLS is also a known irritant, and research suggests that SLES can cause irritation after extended exposure in some people.So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium lauryl sulphate used in soaps, body washes, shampoos and moisturisers?The answer is simple – it is cheap.

The sodium lauryl sulphate found in soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulphate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect.

It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulphate is to mimic the activity of the hormone oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMT and menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturisers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.

They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, as they have been found in low concentrations in breast cancer tumours (an average of 20 nanograms/g of tissue). Parabens have also displayed the ability to mimic oestrogen (a hormone known to play a role in the development of breast cancer).

Parabens can cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis and rosacea in individuals with paraben allergies.

Studies indicate that when combined with sun exposure, methylparaben applied on the skin may react with UVB, leading to increased skin ageing and DNA damage.