Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a high-foaming anionic surfactant widely used in personal care and household cleansing products. Chosen for strong detergency, rapid wetting, and copious lather, it appears in shampoos, body washes, and toothpastes.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A classic sulfate cleanser that can feel stripping on sensitive skin.
Category
Cleansing
Type
Surfactant

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It removes heavy oils and buildup efficiently for a squeaky-clean feel, though it can feel stripping and may provoke irritation on sensitive or over-washed skin.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's used in high-foam shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and toothpastes where strong detergency is desired, and is often combined with milder surfactants in rinse-off formats to temper harshness.

Comedogenic Rating

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

Safety

It has notable irritation potential, including dryness and stinging, particularly for sensitive or compromised skin and eyes. It's acceptable in rinse-off products at typical levels; minimize contact time and discontinue if irritation occurs.

Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate a Good Ingredient?

It's a powerful cleanser with abundant lather, but it rates Fair due to a well-known tendency to cause dryness and irritation, especially with frequent use or sensitive skin. It's best reserved for brief, rinse-off contact within balanced systems rather than daily leave-on-adjacent use.

Products with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

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