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Hygiene expert finally reveals if ‘more lather’ means more cleaning power
Most people aren’t fussed about the shower gel they buy. Does it smell nice? Yes. Does it lather up nicely? Yes. Well, it must be good then, right?
Well, we spoke to a hygiene expert who has helped found multiple natural hygiene companies to finally find out if more lather actually means you’re getting cleaner.
Does more lather mean better cleanliness?
Michelle Yeh, who founded natural hygiene and wellness brand Hygiene Hero, told The Focus that lather “does not indicate cleaning power”.
“For decades, consumers have been misled to believe that the more suds, the more cleaning power,” she said.
The frothy white mass of bubbles is produced by chemicals called sulfates which are added into the soap by the manufacturer.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are commonly added to create bubbles and “lead you to believe in their cleaning power.”
“It plays on consumers psyche and gives a more visual effect, but the bubbles you see are soap molecules simply trapping air in round pockets,” Yeh explained.
“Trapped air in round pockets doesnt clean its the soap molecules that are doing the job.”
These foaming agents are only added because they are “surfactants,” which reduce the surface tension of the water and help the dirt wash away.
Lather is actually bad for your skin
“The reality is that more suds equal more harsh chemicals, more health hazards, and more dry skin,” she continued.
So, more lather is actually a bad thing? Well, yes. These sulfates strip the natural moisture from your skin which causes dryness.
Excessive dryness leads to the accumulation of excessive sebum underneath, which can result in “outside dry, inside oily skin”.
This causes the skin to lack proper protection and a healthy pH balance, making it prone to acne and skin infections.
Yeh grew up on a tropical island in Asia where double-washing and over-washing were taught as skincare routines for decades.
“Little did we know, it basically strips the natural moisture off your skin, messes up the pH balance, and destroys your skins protective layer, and causes more acne and skin infections,” she said.
SLS and SLES can also cause irritation in the eyes, skin, and lungs, especially with long-term use, the hygiene expert added.
Sulfates and the environment
On top of all that, these sulfates which create the lather can have a long-term negative impact on the planet too.
They are derived from petroleum, and petroleum products are “associated with climate change, pollution, and greenhouse gasses,” she explained.
When products that contain sulfates are washed down the drain, they may also be toxic to marine animals.
On top of that, SLES can be contaminated with a compound called dioxane during the manufacturing process, which has been found to cause cancer in lab animals.
Yeh’s brand Hygiene Hero doesn’t use any synthetic surfactants, to “save the environment and for better human health”.
All of the products have very light foam without sulfates but still cleanse well while nourishing your skin with powerful antioxidants and natural moisturizing treatments.
- THIS IS CRAZY: Cleaning a surface doesn’t actually leave it clean…
