Ingredients
Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate is a cleaning agent, or "surfactant," that is one of a group of ingredients commonly used in bath products, cleansing products, shampoos and hair conditioners. We use it in our products to remove dirt and deposits. In its liquid form, as we use it, it surrounds dirt particles to loosen them from the surface to which they are attached.
Sodium sulfate is a carrier that can also be found in bath soaps, detergents and skin care products. A carrier does just what it sounds like - it helps carry a product to a surface by thinning or thickening the formula or simply ensuring even distribution of the other ingredients in the formula. We use sodium sulfate because without a carrier, the product would not work with the same consistency across a surface.
Acid Blue 9 is a colorant, or dye. It is one of the most widely used and tested dyes in consumer products, and can be found in clothing and colored paper. We add dyes to products for a variety of reasons including helping you see where you applied the product, when a product is used up, or for aesthetic reasons. This dye is available from multiple suppliers, which are responsible for its contents.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a thickener that can also be found in cosmetics and personal care products such as makeup, skin care products and shaving cream. In some products, hydroxyethyl cellulose can also be used as a binder, which helps ingredients hold together. We use it to improve the texture of a product and, as needed in some formulas, help a product to cling to surfaces such as a toilet bowl.
Also known as Borax, sodium borate is a builder that has been used for decades in a wide variety of household products, such as lotions, bath and skin products. We use it to make a product formula clean better by affecting the molecules in the formula so they work together better. Sodium borate can also be used as a pH adjuster that alters the pH of a product to improve stability over time. Every formula has an optimum pH to make it work best. Also, the pH of a formula can affect how long it lasts within a container – for example limiting its tendency to corrode a can, container or dispenser.
Lauryl alcohol is an emulsifier that can be found in cosmetic products including hair conditioner and body lotions. It helps bind ingredients together and keep a formula from separating. Over time, it is possible for formulas in a product to separate. We add emulsifiers to our products where needed to ensure that our products provide the same performance use after use. In our shoe care products, it also provides a shine benefit to the area where it is applied.
Myristalkonium chloride is a preservative used in a variety of products such as deodorants, bathroom cleaners and pharmaceuticals. It is used as a detergent to help remove stains and to help preserve our products. Some people raise concerns about preservatives, because a small number of individuals have allergies to them just as some people have allergies to nuts or bees. But preservatives play a very important role in food, cosmetics and household products. Without preservatives, many products would not last more than a week or two before being contaminated by bacteria, mold or yeast. So, we feel the best choice is to add preservatives in the smallest effective quantity to protect our products, but to list these preservatives in our formulas so that those with allergies in the family can make informed choices.