Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate is a high-alkyl anionic surfactant and powerful detergent used in industrial-strength and some rinse-off personal care cleansers. It's employed to dissolve oils and soils and create dense lather, but is notably stripping.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A strong industrial-grade cleanser that can be harsh on skin.
Category
Cleansing
Type
Surfactant

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Poor

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It delivers intense degreasing with strong, quick-building foam for a very thorough wash, but it may disrupt the skin or scalp barrier and lead to dryness or irritation, so it's best reserved for occasional use.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's found in clarifying shampoos, heavy-duty facial cleansers, body washes, and hand soaps aimed at strong oil removal.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

It has high irritation potential, with dryness, tightness, or stinging especially likely on sensitive or compromised skin. Prefer rinse-off use, avoid broken skin, and introduce it cautiously if you're prone to irritation.

Is Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate a Good Ingredient?

It rates Poor: this is an extremely strong cleanser whose aggressive action tends to outweigh its benefits, given the high irritation and drying risk it carries, especially for sensitive or dry skin.

Products with Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

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