Do you remember those carefree days splashing around in the bath, giggling as bubbles filled the air? Well, some things never change, like our love for foamy body washes that often take centre stage as a staple in our daily routines. But here's the scoop: all that lather or we could say not-so-good body wash for women might not be so great for your skin as you grow up and could be doing more harm than good.
But how can something like a known good body wash for women harm us? To understand this, let's start with the basics!
Breakdown of how body wash works?
Your skin gets covered in tiny bits of dirt, oil, and sweat every day. To get rid of them, you need something that can grab onto both the dirt and water so they can wash away. That's where a good body wash for women comes in.
They contain special ingredients called surfactants which are like little cleaning agents that love water and grease equally. When you mix your body wash with water and rub it onto your skin, the surfactants grab onto the dirt and oil and surround them with bubbles called micelles.
These micelles make it easy to wash them away. So, essentially, surfactants help to lift away the dirt and grime from your skin, leaving you feeling clean and fresh.
You might be thinking, there is nothing wrong with it.
So, how can this good stuff be bad for our skin?
Some surfactants, especially the big bad sulfates like Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), can be a bit too rough. They go in stripping away not just the bad stuff, but also the good ones– like your skin's natural oils. Without those oils, your skin can feel as dry as a desert and even get irritated or angry.
As a result, the protective barrier of your skin breaks down, causing the water within your skin to evaporate and leading to severe skin irritation and increasing the likelihood of contact allergies, particularly for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings about SLS, highlighting their potential harm if ingested and their capacity to irritate the eyes and the entire respiratory system. Furthermore, these chemical villains destroy the skin's lipid layers, resulting in dryness and dullness, while also making it easier for other harmful toxins to infiltrate the skin's surface.
Besides harming the skin, they are also recognised as a harmful pollutant. They possess a risk of it going unnoticed in municipal water systems, ultimately contaminating tap water supplies. Scary!!
But what can we do now to keep our skin healthy?
When it comes to a good body wash for women, it's all about finding the right balance between effective cleansing and gentle care. To achieve this balance for your skin, you should opt for body washes that have plant-based surfactants and are sulfate-freeWhen shopping, check the labels for terms like "plant-based," "natural surfactants," or specific plant-derived ingredients like "Cocamidopropyl betaine" or "sodium coco-sulfate." Prioritise natural ingredients like coconut oil, palm oil, or sugar derivatives. Choosing products with these gentle surfactants makes you avoid harsh chemicals on your skin.
With brands like Hibiscus Monkey leading the charge, you can care for your skin with confidence, knowing that it’s getting the love and care it deserves. Our products are sulfate-free and made with 100% natural products. So, now that you know what to avoid, next time you're shopping for a body wash, choose softness over suds.
Your skin will thank you with a radiant glow!