An anionic surfactant used to cleanse and generate foam in suitable products.
Sources: 1, 2SLS, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS
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 Lauryl Sulfate
What it does
Removes oily soils and supports lather. Its cleansing role does not determine how irritating a complete rinse-off formula will be.
Sources: 1, 2Good 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: 1, 2Who should be careful
Can irritate dry, eczematous or reactive skin, especially with prolonged contact. Choose a tolerated finished cleanser rather than assuming all sulfates behave identically.
Sources: 1, 2Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
The dodecyl chain and sulfate head form surface-active assemblies that help disperse oils. Exposure can also disrupt skin barrier lipids and proteins.
Sources: 1, 2Potential adverse effects
Dryness, redness and irritant contact dermatitis may occur. Irritation is not the same diagnosis as an allergic contact reaction.
Sources: 1, 2Formulation considerations
Concentration, co-surfactants, exposure duration and rinsing strongly affect irritation. Laboratory SLS irritation tests are not direct tests of every consumer cleanser.
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.
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 lauryl sulfate
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 3423265 | PubChem compound 3423265: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C12H25NaO4S | PubChem compound 3423265: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 288.38 g/mol | PubChem compound 3423265: chemical identity |
| iupac name | sodium dodecyl sulfate | PubChem compound 3423265: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (3)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Final report on the safety assessment of sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfatesafety assessment · 1983
- PubChem: Sodium lauryl sulfate identity and irritation contextchemical identity and safety
- PubChem compound 3423265: chemical identitychemical identity
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