An ethoxylated anionic surfactant used for cleansing and foaming, especially in rinse-off products.
Sources: 1SLES, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
What it does
Helps lift oily soils and suspend them in rinse water. It is distinct from sodium lauryl sulfate, even though the names are similar.
Sources: 1Good for
- Rinse-off cleansing
- Foaming systems
How to use it
Follow cleanser directions and rinse thoroughly when the product is designed for rinse-off use.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
Sensitive or damaged skin may find some cleansers irritating. Do not label every sulfate formula harsh or infer identical tolerance from the surfactant name alone.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
A hydrophobic chain and a water-compatible sulfate head promote micelle formation. Commercial grades contain a distribution of ethoxylation lengths.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
Irritation or allergic contact dermatitis may occur; impurities and the total surfactant system can be important.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Mildness depends on concentration, co-surfactants, pH, contact time and rinsing. Ethoxylation-related impurity specifications require appropriate manufacturing control.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
- Exact material, composition and supplier-grade specifications
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
sodium laureth sulfate
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
No single structure to show yet
This ingredient represents a mixture, extract, polymer or ingredient family. A single molecular diagram may not describe its composition.
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| material scope | Variable material or ingredient family: no single molecular formula, molecular weight or bond diagram describes every grade. | CIR: Sodium laureth sulfate and related sulfated ethoxylated alcohol salts |
| material scope | A commercial ethoxylate distribution, not one fixed-length molecule. A diagram of one laureth homologue would not represent every SLES grade. | CIR: Sodium laureth sulfate and related sulfated ethoxylated alcohol salts |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (1)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Sodium laureth sulfate and related sulfated ethoxylated alcohol saltssafety assessment · 2010
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