The ingredient, explained
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
A published expert safety assessment covers the exact ingredient in the specified exposure context.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
Sodium laureth sulfate is a cleansing surfactant with foaming and emulsifying roles. These roles describe how it helps a formula interact with material on the skin and form foam.
About this ingredient: CosIng identity and functions via Open Beauty Facts ↗ · European Commission ingredient function definitions ↗
- Cleansing
- Helps remove material from the body surface.
- Emulsifying
- Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
- Foaming
- Helps a liquid trap small gas bubbles as foam.
- Surfactant
- Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.
Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗
Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.
A closer look
What the research shows
Safety assessment
Panel required formulation to be nonirritating because dermal and ocular irritation can occur.
What this does not tell us
Safety assessment has use/concentration data gaps and group extrapolation; does not imply unrestricted tolerance or skin barrier improvement.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 20634505 ↗
Research review checked Oct 1, 2026
Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.
Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.
Read the 1 selected study
Safety assessment
Final report of the amended safety assessment of sodium laureth sulfate and related salts of sulfated ethoxylated alcohols. ↗
International journal of toxicology · 2010
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
sodium 2--2-dodecyloxyethoxy-ethyl sulphate
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
- CAS registry number
- 3088-31-1, 9004-82-4, 68891-38-3, 1335-72-4, 68585-34-2, 91648-56-5
- EC number
- 221-416-0/ - / 500-234-8 / - / 500-223-8 / 293-918-8
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026
- European Commission ingredient function definitions ↗ · Recorded Sep 30, 2026