Wave 1
SLS / SLES
How Everykind treats sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate: caveat-keep when disclosed, hard cut when a sulphate-free claim conflicts.
Not medical advice. No cure claims. Inclusion rules live on The Standard.
What it is
SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) are common foaming surfactants in toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and some cleaners. They are usually listed clearly on an honest INCI panel.
Why it is a concern
- Some people find SLS drying or irritating; buyers often look for sulphate-free options.
- The bigger trust problem is marketing mismatch: “sulphate-free” on the front while SLES sits on the back.
- Transparent lists that include SLS/SLES can still pass with a caveat; hiding them or lying about them cannot.
Where it shows up in our catalog
Personal care: SLS/SLES as primary cleanser = caveat-keep (not auto-cut). Home care: SLS/SLES with a transparent label = caveat-keep under the relaxed rule; sulphate-free claim while listing SLES = hard cut.
Documented example:
- Born Good dishwash was rejected for SLES vs sulphate-free / plant-purity tension — laundry line kept with fragrance/palm-surfactant caveats (Born Good laundry).
- Wave 1 re-vet still checks Born Good toilet (#36) for the same claims-mismatch pattern.
- Bentodent toothpastes are positioned SLS-free — listed with fluoride-free caveats instead.
Safer alternatives we already list
- Surfactant-transparent home care: Bare Necessities Dissolve dishwash (SCI/SLSA/reetha — mild surfactants noted), Rustic Art laundry
- Hair bars with traditional actives and readable lists: Rustic Art / Radico shampoo bars
What we do not claim
We do not say all sulphates are banned forever, or that sulphate-free equals safer for every scalp. We enforce honest labels. See The Standard.