An acyl-sarcosine surfactant used in cleansing and foaming formulas.
Sources: 1, 2No alternative names recorded.
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 Lauroyl Sarcosinate
What it does
Helps remove oily soils and supports foam. Amino-acid-related chemistry does not guarantee that every finished cleanser is non-irritating.
Sources: 1, 2Good for
- Rinse-off cleansing
- Foam support
How to use it
Follow cleanser directions and rinse thoroughly when the product is designed for rinse-off use.
Sources: 1, 2Who should be careful
Irritation depends on concentration, contact time and the full cleanser. It should not be confused with sodium lauryl sulfate or a different lauryl sarcosine salt.
Sources: 1, 2Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Its fatty acyl chain associates with oil while the ionic sarcosinate group interacts with water, supporting soil dispersion and rinsing.
Sources: 1, 2Potential adverse effects
Irritation or allergic contact dermatitis may occur; impurities and the total surfactant system can be important.
Sources: 1, 2Formulation considerations
Evaluate pH, the complete surfactant system and impurity controls. Avoid conditions that could promote nitrosamine formation in susceptible formulation systems.
Sources: 1, 2Pregnancy 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
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: 1, 2Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 23668817 | PubChem compound 23668817: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C15H28NNaO3 | PubChem compound 23668817: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 293.38 g/mol | PubChem compound 23668817: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (3)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Amended safety assessment of fatty acyl sarcosines and sarcosinate saltssafety assessment · 2021
- PubChem: Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate identity and CIR assessment referenceschemical identity and safety references
- PubChem compound 23668817: chemical identitychemical identity
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