Question 1

What does Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sullonate do in a cosmetic formula?

Accepted Answer

This ingredient is a high-foaming anionic surfactant used to cleanse by lifting oil, sebum, and particulate soil from skin and hair. It is most common in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and clarifying formulas where strong foam and detergency are wanted.

Question 2

Is Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sullonate clean?

Accepted Answer

From a clean-beauty perspective, it is accepted by many conventional “free-from” programs but can be drying or irritating at higher levels, especially in facial or frequent-use products. It is not usually flagged for ethoxylation residues, but its strong cleansing profile makes formulation balance important.

Question 3

Is Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sullonate sustainable?

Accepted Answer

This material is typically made from petrochemical it feedstocks, although bio-based routes are technically possible. It is generally considered readily biodegradable, but its fossil sourcing gives it a weaker sustainability profile than comparable plant-derived surfactants.

Question 4

Is Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sullonate COSMOS-approved?

Accepted Answer

It is generally not permitted under COSMOS organic or natural standards because the usual manufacturing route and feedstock do not align with the standard’s approved surfactant criteria. In Green Chemistry terms, its biodegradability is a positive, while fossil sourcing and sulfonation chemistry reduce alignment.

Question 5

How does Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sullonate work chemically?

Accepted Answer

The molecule is a mixture of C14 to C16 alkene-derived anionic salts with strong water solubility and high detergency. Typical rinse-off use levels are often around 4% to 15% active matter, and it is usually formulated with amphoteric or nonionic co-surfactants to reduce irritation and improve mildness.