SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a strong anionic surfactant used for cleansing, foam, and detergency, mostly in rinse-off formulas. It helps lift oil and soil but can feel stripping compared with milder surfactant systems.
What does SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a strong anionic surfactant used for cleansing, foam, and detergency, mostly in rinse-off formulas. It helps lift oil and soil but can feel stripping compared with milder surfactant systems.
Is SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE clean?
Clean-beauty standards often view it with friction because it is a high-detergency synthetic surfactant with higher irritation potential, especially at elevated active levels or in leave-on exposure. It is not a typical choice for brands prioritizing mild, skin-barrier-friendly surfactant systems.
Is SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE sustainable?
This material is generally petrochemical-derived, which limits its renewable-sourcing profile. Linear forms are considered readily biodegradable, but its aquatic profile and high-volume detergent use make it less aligned with low-impact formulation goals.
Is SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic as a standard cosmetic surfactant because it falls outside the allowed naturally derived surfactant set. Its Green Chemistry fit is mixed, with biodegradability in linear grades but fossil feedstocks and intensive sulfonation chemistry weighing against it.
How does SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE work chemically?
The molecule is an anionic surfactant built from a hydrophobic C12 alkyl chain attached to an aromatic ring and a strongly ionized sulfonate head group, supplied as a sodium salt. It performs across a broad pH range and is usually kept to low single-digit active levels in personal care, often blended with amphoteric or nonionic surfactants to moderate harshness.
Last updated 2026-05-13