Here’s the tagline for a body wash product I just got a sample of:
“Clean you expect.
Ingredients you trust.”
Here’s the list of ingredients (in order):
Water – Off to a good start. I know what this is!
Cocamidopropyl Betaine – Voted 2004 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Wow, who knew?
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate – This is the common name for ammonium dodecyl sulfate. Now that clears up everything.
Coco-Glucoside – Synthetic surfactant produced by chemical reaction between glucose and coconut oil-derived ingredients. Made in a lab with coconuts.
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate – Considered the lesser of two evils. Now that is comforting.
Hydrogen Peroxide – Extra oxygen!
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice – Plain ol’ aloe vera, baby. Sounds more sinister though, right?
Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate – Again with the coconuts… I find it a tish worrisome that there isn’t much information available on this.
Hydroxyethylcellulose – Dow tells me this tolerates salt and retains water. For a moment I thought they were talking about me. This little unpronouncable word is also used in latex paints, building materials, and oilfield chemicals.
Laureth-7 – Any time the definition starts with “extensive chemical modification” I start to worry.
Polyquaternium-39 – This is an ammonium compound. I learned this from Wikipedia: “They are thought to be the chemical group responsible for anaphylactic reactions that occur with use of neuromuscular blocking drugs during general anaesthesia in surgery.[10] Quaternium-15 is the single most often found cause of allergic contact dermatitis of the hands.”
Fragrance – And here I thought fragrance was elusive, unable to be captured and bottled. Exactly what comprises this fragrance?
Glycol Distearate – Some sort of chemical compound of ethylene glycol (antifreeze!) and stearic acid (common fatty acid found in nature).
Laureth-4 – Something happens to make ethylene oxide react with lauryl alcohol. It’s safe to say alcohol was involved.
Phosphoric Acid – Used for rust removal! Also an ingredient in Coke.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate – I’ll pay you ten bucks if you can pronounce this.
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide – A disinfectant. Seems appropriate for a body wash.
Sodium Xylene Sulfonate – Somehow this helps water dissolve molecules. It’s cousin is ammonium. Yikes.
Where does your mind go after reading that ingredient list? Are these ingredients you trust? My general rule is that if I can’t pronounce it I can’t fully trust it. Keep in mind I did fail high school chemistry. I’m coming at this as a consumer, not a chemist.
Many things that sound scary and sinister are derived from natural elements (hence all the coconuts in that ingredient list). My dermatologist makes a fine point in saying that poison ivy is natural but you wouldn’t want it in your face cream. Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s healthy, safe, or environmentally responsible. Companies are clearly trying to woo consumers by latching on to the whole earth marketing trend. There are a few companies that have nailed the balance of social good and corporate profit. It’s a fine balance for sure. But more businesses are not so savvy or well meaning. If a company like the one whose body wash I got wants to truly lead with an environmental message, it should consider some wordsmithing to tell consumers the real story behind those ingredients. Or at least change the tagline.
Gosh, I adore you. And I commend you on typing out all those words and chasing down all those links.
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