Ingredient decoder

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

INCI name: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Strong foaming cleanser that can irritate and dry skin.

  • Cleansing
  • Denaturant
  • Emulsifying
  • Foaming
  • Surfactant

Sodium lauryl sulfate in plain English

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a strong detergent that makes cleansers and shampoos foam. It rates high on old comedogenic lists, and it is a well-known skin irritant, and irritated skin can break out more. 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. It is less of a concern in a wash-off product that is rinsed quickly.

Is sodium lauryl sulfate bad for acne?

It can be. Sodium lauryl sulfate has a high 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 harsh detergent that rates high on old lists. It irritates skin, which can lead to breakouts. Less of a concern when rinsed off fast.

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

Also called

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • SLS
  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate
  • Sodium laurilsulfate
  • Sodium lauryl sulphate

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Frequently asked questions

Is sodium lauryl sulfate comedogenic?

Sodium lauryl 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 harsh detergent that rates high on old lists. It irritates skin, which can lead to breakouts. Less of a concern when rinsed off fast.

What does sodium lauryl sulfate do in skincare?

In short: strong foaming cleanser that can irritate and dry skin. In formulas it is used for cleansing, denaturant, emulsifying, foaming and surfactant.

What else is sodium lauryl sulfate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, sodium lauryl sulfate can also appear as SLS, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sodium laurilsulfate or Sodium lauryl sulphate.

Sources