Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic

Welcome to our new weekly column on the YOU magazine website, www.you.co.uk  Below you will find the current question and our advice, with a list of where to source the products mentioned.  To look at past columns, click here. And for lots more solutions to your beauty dilemmas, visit Q&A, just click here.

March 14th, 2010: Ingredients

Q I just read in The Green Beauty Bible that there is SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in aqueous cream. I would really appreciate your advice on an alternative product? 

A Aqueous cream is a light paraffin-based emulsion designed to provide a layer of oil on the skin surface; it can also be used instead of soap. It is frequently prescribed by GPs as a leave-on emollient for patients with eczema and other irritating skin condition. 

And yes, despite being a known skin irritant, the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS, and its cousin SLES, which stands for sodium laureth sulfate) is indeed contained in aqueous cream, and also frequently found in soap, detergent, baby wipes, bubble bath, bath gels and even toothpaste (when it’s often linked to mouth ulcers). 

However, dermatologists are educating doctors and manufacturers about this harsh detergent and there are now an increasing number of alternatives to be found.  These often have ‘Contains no SLS’ flagged up on the label.  Many also exclude parabens, not because of the cancer risk (on which the jury is truly out) but because parabens too can irritate skin.

For dry itchy sensitive skin, we suggest Ecz-Easy by Inlight, £13.53 for 45 ml, from www.victoriahealth.com (click here), which many YOU readers have reported ease their dry skin conditions. (Don’t forget it’s free postage for online orders, and you get your 5% discount). 

In chemists nationwide you can find Dexeryl cream, a paraffin-based dry skin product with no sodium lauryl sulphate, lanolin or fragrance, by Pierre Fabre Dermatologie, £5.99 for 250 g.  We’re not in general keen on paraffin-based products – because they tend to clog pores - but they do provide an effective barrier which can be useful in these cases. 

We’re also long-term fans of the Avène ‘A-Derma’ range of organically certified oat-based products, which are universally rated by people with touchy skins.  Two products: A-Derma Exomega Cleansing Shower Oil, a soap free cleanser, £9.50 for 200 ml, and A-Derma Exomega Cream, an emollient cream, £9.95 for 200 ml, from selected Boots stores and leading independent pharmacies.  Stockists: tel/01582-820165. 

For washing, we’re devoted to Dr Bronner’s range of Organic Castile Liquid Soaps – all under £5 for a big bottle – in zingy Peppermint, Rose, Tea tree, Lavender and Almond.  From Victoria Health, if you click here (and of course you get a 5% discount and free postage & packing).

We . . . Decléor Slim Effect, from £38.50-42.00.  It’s pretty safe to say that until now, nobody applied a cellulite treatment for the fragrance alone.  But this trio of products smells just fantastic:  fresh and citrussy and aromatic (with essential oils of sweet marjoram, elemi and grapefruit, all of which help boost microcirculation and firm skin).  Clever thinking – because one of the key reasons most cellulite products don’t work is that women don’t use them regularly enough.  The sheer pleasure of applying any one of these products (let alone the trio of serum, gel-cream and massage balm) should guarantee their effectiveness:  a chore becomes a joy, so you want to do it every day.  And the bottom line (sorry!):  that’s how you get results. 

Where to find products

Ecz-Easy by Inlight, £13.53 for 45 ml, is available to purchase online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Pierre Fabre Dermatologie Dexeryl Cream, £5.99 for 250g, is available to purchase from leading pharmacies nationwide. 

Avéne A-Derma Exomega Cleansing Shower Oil, £9.50 for 200 ml, is available to purchase from larger Boots stores and leading pharmacies nationwide. 

Avéne A-Derma Exomega Cream, £9.95 for 200 ml, is available to purchase in larger Boots stores and leading pharmacies nationwide. 

Dr Bronner’s  Organic Castile Liquid Soaps, £4.99, are available to purchase online from www.victoriahealth.com. Don’t forget your exclusive 5% discount with all online orders. 

Decléor Slim Effect Range, from £38.50, is available to purchase online from www.beautyexpert.co.uk. Don’t forget your exclusive 10% discount with all online orders.

Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic Archive

March 7th 2010 - Laser hair removal
February 28th 2010 - SPF Moisturisers
February 21st 2010 - Eyelash enhancers
February 14th 2010 - Night-time skincare
February 7th 2010 - Moisturisers
January 31st 2010 - Concealers
January 24th 2010 - Primers
January 17th 2010 - Choosing skincare products
January 10th 2010 - Parabens free make-up
January 3rd 2010 - Cosmetic Dentistry

Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic Archive 2009