Alpha Olefin Sulfonate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a high-foam anionic surfactant used as a primary cleanser in shampoos, body washes, hand soaps, and facial cleansers. It lifts oil and soil effectively and helps build dense, quick-forming lather.
What does Alpha Olefin Sulfonate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a high-foam anionic surfactant used as a primary cleanser in shampoos, body washes, hand soaps, and facial cleansers. It lifts oil and soil effectively and helps build dense, quick-forming lather.
Is Alpha Olefin Sulfonate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has more friction than milder plant-derived surfactants because it can feel stripping or irritating, especially in high-active formulas. It is not usually a major restricted-list issue for impurities, but it is often viewed less favorably due to its synthetic origin and cleanser strength.
Is Alpha Olefin Sulfonate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from petrochemical linear alkene feedstocks, though its carbon-chain source can vary by supplier. It is generally readily biodegradable under aerobic wastewater conditions, but its nonrenewable sourcing limits its sustainability profile.
Is Alpha Olefin Sulfonate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic because the common supply chain is fully synthetic and petrochemical-derived. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with efficient manufacture and good biodegradability balanced against nonrenewable feedstock and higher irritation potential.
How does Alpha Olefin Sulfonate work chemically?
This material is not a single molecule, but a mixture of long-chain, negatively charged surfactant structures made by adding sulfur trioxide to linear alkenes, followed by neutralization. Typical rinse-off use is about 3% to 15% active matter, and it is often paired with amphoteric or nonionic co-surfactants and conditioning polymers to improve mildness and skin feel.
Last updated 2026-08-20