Since the society learned about the dangers of genetically modified products, additives labeled “E”, and surfactants that are used in the chemical industry, people have carefully studied the composition of all the goods that you have to buy in the store. And not in vain, because one or more elements of a cake or shampoo that we know can be harmful and even destructive both for appearance and for the body as a whole.
This article will focus on surfactants and specifically on a surfactant such as lauryl glucoside. We will tell you how this ingredient of detergents and cleaners comes from, what is its effect on the skin, whether it is harmful. In addition, let's talk about the true dangers of surfactants. If you are used to considering these indispensable ingredients of washing and caring cosmetics harmful, then this article is designed to debunk some popular myths.
A few words about surfactants
Before proceeding to determine the role that lauryl glucoside plays in cosmetics, let us say a few words about surfactants. Those people who knowingly consider them harmful will not be completely wrong. Indeed, several decades ago, surfactants that were added to cosmetics and detergents were more aggressive and had harmful effects on the skin. But today the situation has changed for the better for the buyer, and surfactants sometimes have more likely a positive effect on the appearance and quality of the dermis.
In addition, speaking about the dangers of surface-active substances, it is understood that it will not be useful to inhale them in high concentrations or use them in the form of shampoo in pure form for washing your hair. If the surfactant is not carcinogenic, then, with a probability of nine to one, it will not cause any significant harm to your hair and skin. The only risk group is people with certain types of dermatitis.
What are surfactants for?
What is in the widely advertised shampoos and shower gels? These are extracts of oils, decoctions of herbs and useful plants. But try to make such a shampoo yourself. Make an infusion of chamomile, thyme, sage, and then try to wash their hair with it. And what happens? It is possible that the hair inside will become stronger and better in quality, but you certainly can not wash off the grease and dirt with such a “shampoo”. Natural ingredients, if you make a cosmetic product from them, do not lather, do not foam, are poorly washed off, practically do not remove dirt and grease. This is why surfactants are used in the chemical and cosmetic industries.
In addition, surfactants are necessary so that makeup removers and skin creams do not disintegrate during storage into water and oil. It would seem that what is terrible in such a decay into two phases? The fact is that microorganisms that are undesirable for the dermis can form on the surface of the oil.
Previously, surfactants, before the boom of the chemical industry, were replaced by animal fats, but it is not environmentally friendly and humane to use them. The first surfactants invented by chemists were non-sparing and aggressive in terms of exposure to the skin.
After all, what are these substances for? They make the skin soapy, create foam. If you dig deeper, then the upper layer of the dermis under the influence of a surfactant is revealed, and the active substance of shampoo or cream has the ability to penetrate under the skin.
What is the main problem of surfactants, is that they can penetrate under the skin together with the active substance, as well as take the necessary fat from the skin along with dirt or unnecessary fat. As a result, the surface of the dermis can become dry, irritated, a rash or redness appears.
What is the risk of using aggressive surfactants?
We got close to the issue of the dangers of surfactants. Is this true or myth? Sometimes we blame for the appearance of acne, acne, in dry and lifeless skin, brittle hair, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, lack of vitamins. However, the problem must be sought from all sides. What we use during daily hygiene procedures can also become a source of “evil”.
Our skin is a universal absorber of everything that is applied to it. Before using an inexpensive shower cleanser, expired cream or cosmetics, think that the active ingredients of this cleanser penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. That is why it is so important to use organic cosmetics, pay attention to expiration dates and, of course, try to avoid using products containing aggressive ingredients.
Surfactant Differences
Chemists divide surfactants into four groups according to the degree of their effect on the skin, the ability to foam and remove dirt in water.
- Anionic . Such surfactants are the most common, as they have the ability to wash away grease and dirt, even if the water is hard. One of the most used is sodium lauryl sulfate. Recently, there has been a shift in favor of using softer and less drying surfactants in industry. Lauryl glucoside refers precisely to anionic surfactants.
- Cationic - these active substances wash away dirt worse than anionic ones, and at the same time they can harm the skin to a greater extent. Cationic surfactants are little used as an additive to shampoos, but they are actively used in cosmetics to relieve static stress on clothing or hair.
- Amphoteric . They are most often used together with anionic ones in order to reduce the negative effect of the latter on the dermis. They improve the foaming of cosmetics.
- Nonionic active substances slightly irritate the skin, give softness. Such surfactants are most often used together with anionic surfactants, for example, in shampoos and conditioners, so that the hair becomes silky and soft.
Shatter myths about the dangers of surfactants
For more than half a century, people have been using hygiene products and cosmetics containing surfactants. It should be noted that earlier in the chemical industry cationic stiff and anionic were used more, now there is an advantage in the direction of using active substances with a milder way of exposure.
However, it should be noted that no matter what tool you use (meaning shampoo, shower gel, hygienic soap), your hair will not fall out and your skin will not peel off. The harm from the use of surfactants is largely exaggerated.
Most of all in this regard, sodium lauryl sulfate goes, this surfactant has a very bad reputation. Having seen this ingredient in shampoo, modern women and girls, having read articles on the horrors of sulfates in cosmetics, are ready to throw it in the bin.
However, the catch is that the hair, which after using the shampoo or conditioner should become shiny and voluminous, will not become alive, since it already consists of dead keratinized cells. Judge for yourself if the hair or nails really were alive, then the procedure for cutting the ends of the hair or nails would be hellish torture.
It turns out that hair can become silky and “alive” only if it is cleaned of dirt or grease. The more foaming agent the shampoo contains, the more beautiful and healthier the clean hair will look.
Another question: "Do surfactants containing sulfates irritate the dermis?" It has been clinically proven that they will actually damage the skin if the interaction lasts at least an hour. Do you imagine that you can soak your hair in shampoo for more than an hour? In addition, inhalation of surfactants in large quantities in pure form will be harmful.
It turns out that you should not trust many articles that repeat one after another unverified information about the dangers of surfactants. If you are really interested in this topic, then study it in detail or use the usual cosmetic products calmly.
How to get lauryl glucoside
What is this "surfactant", we figured out. They can be both harmful and not have pronounced allergenic or other negative properties.
Surfactants are created by chemists from three types of raw materials. The first way to get them is to use natural ingredients - fats and oils. The second method of production is the use of oil. The third way to obtain surfactants is synthesis, that is, the artificial production in the laboratory from various products of natural and artificial origin. Lauryl glucoside, which is discussed in this article, belongs to the first group of surfactants by the method of preparation. It should be described in more detail.
Let's look at how lauryl glucoside is synthesized, the harm and its benefits to the skin, whether it is possible to safely use the cosmetics in which it is contained.
The formula and method of obtaining
The most popular today among the types of surfactants used are organic substances. They are cheaper and easier to obtain, they do not cause much harm to the skin and the environment, and some active substances can even be useful. Lauryl glucoside in cosmetics is used quite often, since it is obtained from completely natural raw materials. It can also be found in detergents.
How is lauryl glucoside chemically described? Its formula is: C 18 H 36 O 6 .
Fat is extracted chemically from coconut oil and glucose. Synthesize lauryl glucoside. Obtaining this surfactant is due to excellent soapiness, dirt removal, as well as a softening effect on the dermis. Most often, lauryl glucoside is used in shampoos, shower gels. It is also added to children's detergents, creams for intimate hygiene.
Another type of substance
Another type of very mild surfactant, the use of which has not yet been identified allergic reactions, is carboxylase lauryl glucoside. Description of the substance: it is a mild anionic surfactant that is added to shampoos, shower gels, creams and soaps. Such a substance is obtained from coconut and palm oil with the addition of sugar and starch.
How strong is allergen - sodium lauryl sulfate ?
Often, cosmetics users ask about the dangers of a substance like sodium lauryl glucoside. There is a mistake here - most likely, sodium lauryl sulfate is meant. This active surfactant is widely used in shampoos due to its excellent foam formation.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a strong allergen, dries and weakens the hair structure, can cause dandruff. Lauryl sodium has nothing to do with lauryl glucoside.
Are sulfates harmful to hair?
The most foaming active substances are sulfates. These include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauren sulfate, sodium lauryl glucoside hydroxypropyl sulfonate and others. Most buyers believe that the word "sulfate" indicates danger, and it is better not to use such cosmetics if you really care about the beauty of your hair.
But this is not quite the case. As mentioned above, such surfactants will be harmful only if they are used in large quantities and in pure form.
Sulfate shampoos are most often used in professional cosmetics and cosmetics, in salons and hairdressers, to quickly and thoroughly wash the client's hair and take care of the beautiful appearance of the hair. Such shampoos and gels form a lot of foam, are easily washed off, and the hair becomes beautiful. However, if you apply such cosmetics daily, you can notice the drying effect, the hair will become brittle.
The danger of using lauryl glucoside
Is lauryl glucoside harmful to health? It is definitely not recommended to use cosmetics containing surfactants for people with atopic dermatitis. In other cases, no surfactant, even having sulfate formulas, will cause a severe allergic reaction. If you notice redness of the skin, after a shower there is a desire to scratch, it is worth replacing cosmetic preparations with others.
Summarizing
If we talk about surfactants, then there is no need to fear them in the composition of shampoos, shower gels, soaps and conditioners. The danger is only those surfactants that are obtained from oil and its derivatives.
Currently, manufacturers of caring cosmetics and cleaning products most often use organic substances that are absolutely harmless in small quantities, soften the skin, quickly wash off grease and dirt, making the overall appearance of hair and skin healthy and clean. Lauryl glucoside is one of the most common surfactants used today. Its feature is good foaming, soapiness, as well as the ability to maintain consistency. Sodium lauryl glucoside carboxylate, lauryl glucoside carboxylase are similar in the way of obtaining and using surfactants. For the most part, they do not cause allergic reactions, but rather, soften the skin and make it look healthy.
Long interaction of the skin with surfactants is not recommended, since an allergic reaction can occur, inhaling the surfactant in its pure form. However, if you are not working in the cosmetics industry, then the likelihood of this is small. It is recommended not to use cosmetic products, in which a surfactant containing sulfate is mentioned, to people suffering from different types of dermatitis, since an exacerbation of the disease is possible.