Label Check: Sodium Laureth Sulfate.

This is the latest in my Label Check series in which I examine a chemical or ingredient in depth. Today I am looking at Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).  It is a surfactant used as a foaming agent, as people often incorrectly believe that more foam equal more cleaning power. 

Image take from http://www.mylifeasanesthetician.com

You can find SLES in toothpastes, shower gels, bubble bath, soaps, facial cleansers, and detergents. It's an inexpensive ingredient, so manufacturers like to use it to keep costs down.  SLES can cause eye irritation and can be contaminated with the carcinogen 1-4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, which is a carcinogen, along with being a reproductive/development toxicant, and immunotoxicant.

While SLES is thought to be milder than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), there are still concerns. 

Sources: 

Environmental Working Group