Sulfate-free cleansers

What this label means and how we count it

On this site sulfate-free means three ingredients are absent from the list: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. Those are the sulfate surfactants that actually turn up in ingredient lists. The boundary is worth knowing: other anionic surfactants such as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine are not in our dictionary, so a product can be on this list and still foam heavily. Sulfate-free is not the same as gentle. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also on our watchlist: one molecule answering two different questions, which is why sulfate-free does not mean watchlist-free. Avoiding sulfates is a more common request about hair products than about skincare, which is why this facet covers shampoos, conditioners and other hair products alongside facial cleansers. Only products whose ingredient list we have read are included. We do not claim sulfates are too much for everyone.