Why I Avoid Ethoxylated Surfactants (and Choose Truly Clean Cleansers)

When you look at commercial cleansers, liquid soaps, or melt-and-pour bases, you’ll often spot synthetic foaming agents like Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). While these detergents produce big, fluffy bubbles, how they are made tells a very different story.

To turn harsh cleaning agents into milder detergents like SLES, chemical manufacturers run them through a process called ethoxylation. This process relies on ethylene oxide—a toxic petrochemical gas.

Handling ethylene oxide poses severe occupational hazards for chemical factory workers, including long-term toxic exposure and elevated risks for serious health issues. On top of worker safety concerns, ethoxylation leaves behind unwanted, unlisted trace contaminants like 1,4-dioxane (a known carcinogen) in the final product.

I refuse to support that synthetic supply chain.

Instead, I focus on traditional saponification—combining pure fats and oils with lye to create real, natural soap—and for special gentle applications where a mild surfactant is needed, I rely exclusively on naturally derived, non-ethoxylated glucosides like decyl glucoside and coco-glucoside.

Here is why that difference matters:

Zero Ethoxylation: Glucosides are made by combining natural plant sugars with fatty alcohols (like coconut). No toxic gases, no petroleum solvents, and no hidden carcinogens lingering in your lather.

Respect for People & Planet: Clean ingredient sourcing means choosing processes that are safer for factory workers, aquatic life, and your skin barrier.

Gentle, Biodegradable Performance: Plant glucosides deliver a rich, creamy lather and gentle cleansing power without stripping your skin or relying on synthetic petrochemical boosters.

Clean skin care shouldn't come at the cost of worker safety or synthetic chemical processing. Pure ingredients and thoughtful formulation do the job best—naturally.