by Shannon McKenna

Created on: April 28, 2008

How Well Do You Know Your Body Wash?

Body wash is indeed enticing. The packaging is attractive; the label says moisturizing'. It looks silky and pampering and smells divine. Our brain says buy it' (of course that's what the marketing people want our brains to say) but is it good for our skin? That is up to the consumer to figure out, and it's not an easy task. Personal care is big business; it's not unheard of for companies to spend more on marketing than the product itself. Their job is to sell us products, whether they are good for us or not. I'm writing to neither praise nor condemn any particular brands or companies. Some are definitely better and some are markedly worse. This is simply a quick overview of a few key things that consumers may want to consider if they are looking for a body wash that more skin friendly'.

Ingredients are listed in descending order by amount. The first ingredient in body wash is typically water. That's something I try to avoid paying for. Coming in close after for many brands is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or a similar ingredient. SLS is a detergent or sudsing agent; it's what makes all those nice fluffy bubbles. SLS is also a common skin irritant and is most definitely tested on animals. It's a key ingredient in most shampoos-both hair shampoo and rug shampoo! The label may list Sodium Laureth Sulfate instead. That is also a detergent but a milder skin irritant, so it's often used in baby shampoos, baby washes, etc. Ammonium Lauryl (and Laureth) Sulfates are along the same line: detergents that make great bubbles with Laureth being the milder skin irritant of the two. I personally find it difficult to find any product moisturizing or nourishing when the main ingredient is a harsh and possibly irritating detergent.

You may see petrolatum or mineral oil (baby oil)-both inexpensive, petroleum based ingredients. Yes, they do help soften skin-by coating it. These ingredients aren't absorbed by the skin; they stay on top of the skin as a barrier. They are also more difficult to wash off. Thus, moisture doesn't evaporate from the skin, but the skin isn't able to breathe' and can't absorb further moisture and/or release toxins efficiently. If you're looking to protect your skin and keep a film on it, you've got the right stuff. If you're looking to nourish and moisturize beyond the surface, you may want to look elsewhere.

Ok, so maybe your body wash lists some good things: shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, aloe, for example Where are they on the list? Near the top? Or way down at the bottom? Remember, the further down something is, the less of it's in your bottle. How much say, shea butter, are you really getting? Exactly how much shea butter do you need to counteract the drying effects of the detergents and other chemical ingredients that are at the top of the list? I don't know, and the manufacturers sure aren't going to tell me.

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