Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a mild anionic surfactant used for cleansing, foam building, and reducing the harsh feel of stronger cleansing systems. It is common in shampoos, face washes, body washes, and baby-cleansing formulas.
What does Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a mild anionic surfactant used for cleansing, foam building, and reducing the harsh feel of stronger cleansing systems. It is common in shampoos, face washes, body washes, and baby-cleansing formulas.
Is Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is often viewed as gentler than many classic anionic cleansers, with relatively low irritation potential when well formulated. The main friction point is ethoxylation, which can raise residue-control questions around 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide.
Is Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate sustainable?
This material can start from fatty alcohol feedstocks that may be plant-derived or petro-derived, but its ethoxylated portion is typically petrochemical. It is generally expected to biodegrade, yet its processing route is less aligned with stricter natural-standard preferences.
Is Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not aligned with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic because ethoxylated materials are not permitted under the standard. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with useful mildness and biodegradability, but weaker marks for petrochemical processing and residue-management needs.
How does Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate work chemically?
The molecule is an ethoxylated fatty-chain it salt, which gives it strong water solubility, anionic cleansing behavior, and a milder sensory profile than many high-foaming sulfate systems. It is typically used in rinse-off products at low to moderate active levels, works best in mildly acidic to neutral formulas, and is commonly paired with amphoteric or nonionic surfactants to tune foam, viscosity, and skin feel.
Last updated 2026-05-13