Shaving creams are an
important piece of the shaving puzzle. The primary function of shaving creams
is to create lather. Irrespective of the kind or brand, shaving creams are
usually made up of 80% water. So basically what this means is that much of the
differentiating ingredient from one brand to the other falls in the remaining
20%. Like is experienced in other health products, there are some harmful
ingredients secretly introduced into the creams to make it produce more lather.
Propolene
Glycol
It is a humectant like
glycerin (humectant - a big word that means any substance that promotes the
retention of water). Unlike glycerin, propolene glycol is found in brake fluid
and antifreeze.
Triethanolamine
(TEA)
TEA is better known in the
chemist world as an emulsifying agent. Basically it helps bind water and fat
together. While this may not seem harmful in itself, TEA is suspected to be a
leading cause of skin irritation and also found to be in connection with
nitrosamines. Nitrosamine is reputable for its link to cancer.
Sodium
Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)
Both
of these ingredients cause great formation of lather but also have health
implications. SLS acts like estrogen in women, while SLES acts as host to a
carcinogen called dioxane.
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