Shampoo

Palm oil is found in one out of every ten supermarket products including shampoos, cooking oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, biscuits, margarine and soaps. The UN estimates that palm oil plantations are 'now the primary cause of permanent rainforest loss'. This threatens the survival of the Orang-utans, the Sumatran tiger and the Asian rhinoceros. Additionally, burning after deforestation accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions -1,400 million tonnes of CO2 every year in Indonesia alone.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is the foaming agent commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, and toothpastes. It's also found in industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps. Although used in low concentrations in bodycare products, it ends up on the most sensitive areas of our bodies almost every day. It is well known in the scientific community as a common skin irritant. In stripping away oil and drying the skin's surface, it reduces the skin's ability to effectively regulate moisture, and increases the skin's absorption of certain other chemicals such as preservatives, fragrances and colour additives. It's used in our products primarily because it's cheap, often derived from palm oil. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the alcohol form of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying. There is mixed opinion as to whether SLS and SLES are carcinogenic (cancer causing), however, it is possible both may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is a probable carcinogen.  [Living Toxic Free]

Chitin (from insects and crustacea) and keratin (protein from hair, horn, hoof and feathers), �??Panthenol�?�, �??Amino acids�?�, or �??Vitamin B�?� can be derived from animals (Information compiled by Aduki)