Ingredient decoder

Sodium laureth sulfate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Foaming cleanser, milder than SLS but can still irritate.

  • Cleansing
  • Emulsifying
  • Foaming
  • Surfactant

Sodium laureth sulfate in plain English

Sodium laureth sulfate is a foaming cleanser that is milder than sodium lauryl sulfate. It can still irritate skin, especially in leave-on products. Keep in mind these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate the risk of a small amount in a finished product.

Is sodium laureth sulfate bad for acne?

It can be. Sodium laureth sulfate has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. It has no score of its own in Fulton's 1989 table and is flagged on classic comedogenic lists, often because of its chemical family. If you break out easily, check where it sits on the ingredient list: the higher it appears, the more of it the product usually contains.

Why it is flagged: A milder cousin of SLS. Can still irritate in leave-on products.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
  • SLES
  • Sodium lauryl ether sulfate
  • Sodium laureth sulphate
  • Sodium lauryl ether sulphate

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Frequently asked questions

Is sodium laureth sulfate comedogenic?

Sodium laureth sulfate has no score of its own in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear table, but it is flagged as a pore-clogger on classic comedogenic lists. A milder cousin of SLS. Can still irritate in leave-on products.

What does sodium laureth sulfate do in skincare?

In short: foaming cleanser, milder than SLS but can still irritate. In formulas it is used for cleansing, emulsifying, foaming and surfactant.

What else is sodium laureth sulfate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, sodium laureth sulfate can also appear as SLES, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate, Sodium laureth sulphate or Sodium lauryl ether sulphate.

Sources