You take care to be a good steward of your community and environment every day, and you can do the same with your personal care rituals. It can be overwhelming to sort out what’s good for you and what’s bad for you in an ingredient list comprised of dozens of unfamiliar sounding elements. Switching to paraben and sulfate free body wash is an easy change you can make and it will benefit both your skin and the environment, as avoiding those two key compounds can do a world of good.

First, skip sulfates. The most common sulfate-based ingredients in skincare are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES). Sulfates function as surfactants, which means they attract water and break down oil and debris. While this makes for an effective cleanser, sulfates are known irritants, and strip skin of essential oils. Over time, the squeaky-clean feeling associated with sulfates can lead to dry, brittle skin, and irritate or even increase acne.

Second, limit parabens. Parabens are a preservative used to create shelf stable skincare and beauty products and prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Long lasting products are great, but parabens penetrate your skin and enter your body tissues. Be on the lookout for these commonly used paraben-based ingredients:

• Butylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Propylparaben

Using products without sulfates and parabens like The Right To Shower body wash is not just better for you, it’s also better for the world around you.

Here are three good reasons to skip these chemicals the next time you stock up on body wash:

The two primary sources of sulfates are petroleum and palm oil. We all know petroleum production is a dirty business that contributes to climate change and increases greenhouse gases. But palm oil production is one of the world’s leading drivers of deforestation. In countries from Malaysia to Indonesia, tropical forests and nutrient rich peatlands are being cleared to make way for oil palm plantations. This releases carbon into the atmosphere and harms the habitats of endangered species.

The Right To Shower body washes are Rainforest Alliance certified because they use sustainably sourced palm oil, which is good for you and the environment.

Because sulfates are known to cause irritation to human skin, products containing sulfates are often tested on animals to gauge the level of irritation they will induce in people. That means mice, baby rabbits, and guinea pigs suffer so you don’t. Avoiding sulfates altogether circumvents this process.

The Right To Shower never tests its products on animals, nor do its suppliers and manufacturers. With The Right To Shower, you can clean comfortably, knowing no creatures were injured to test your soap or body wash.

After you lather up, your suds wash down the drain entering the groundwater, and ultimately the ocean. Parabens have begun showing up in the tissues of marine mammals like dolphins, sea otters, and polar bears. Scientists are still studying whether parabens are harmful to ocean animals, but if you prefer saving the sea to saving your soap, limiting products with parabens is definitely the way to go!