Lauryl Hydroxysultaine

TL;DR. This ingredient is an amphoteric surfactant used for cleansing, foam boosting, and reducing the feel of harsher anionic surfactants in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.

What does Lauryl Hydroxysultaine do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is an amphoteric surfactant used for cleansing, foam boosting, and reducing the feel of harsher anionic surfactants in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.

Is Lauryl Hydroxysultaine clean?

It is generally viewed as a mild, well-tolerated synthetic surfactant, with clean-standard attention focused on manufacturing quality and residual processing impurities. Sensitization is not a common issue, but very reactive or compromised skin may still respond to surfactant systems overall.

Is Lauryl Hydroxysultaine sustainable?

This material is typically made from a fatty alcohol feedstock that may come from coconut, palm, or petrochemical sources, plus synthetic reagents. It is expected to be biodegradable in properly designed surfactant systems, but sourcing traceability and palm-linked supply chains can affect its sustainability profile.

Is Lauryl Hydroxysultaine COSMOS-approved?

It is not a straightforward COSMOS-organic ingredient, and acceptance in COSMOS-natural products depends on supplier documentation, permitted processing, and biodegradability data. From a Green Chemistry view, it has partial alignment when the fatty chain is renewable and the final material is readily biodegradable, but it is still a chemically processed surfactant with impurity-control requirements.

How does Lauryl Hydroxysultaine work chemically?

The molecule is a zwitterionic surfactant with a C12 hydrophobic tail and a permanently charged polar head, which helps it remain compatible with anionic, nonionic, and cationic systems. It is typically used in rinse-off products at low single-digit active levels, is stable across mildly acidic to neutral cleanser pH, and is often paired with sulfate or isethionate systems to improve foam texture and mildness.

Last updated 2026-05-13