Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes disodium laureth sulfosuccinate on its list of indirect food additives that may be used as an emulsifier and/or surface active agent in articles in contact with food. The safety of disodium laureth sulfosuccinate has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that this ingredient was safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating.

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Review

Based on its high molecular weight and negative charge, the Expert Panel concluded that it not likely that disodium laureth sulfosuccinate as used in personal care products would penetrate the skin. The Expert Panel reviewed data that showed no systemic toxicity following oral exposure. Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate was not genotoxic and related compounds were not reproductive or developmental toxicants. Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate was not a sensitizer. Depending on the concentration and formulation, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate can be irritating to the skin and eyes. Therefore, the Expert Panel concluded that disodium laureth sulfosuccinate was safe in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating. Trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane, a by-product of ethoxylation may be found disodium laureth sulfosuccinate. The potential presence of 1,4-dioxane is well known and can be controlled through purification steps to minimize it from the ingredient before blending into cosmetic formulations.

More information about 1,4-dioxane.

Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

Resources

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

What Is It?

Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate is a surfactant. It is a disodium salt of ethoxylated lauryl alcohol bound to sulfosuccinic acid. Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate is primarily used in cleansing products, including bubble baths, bath soaps and detergents, shampoos and shaving cream.

Why Is It Used?

In cosmetics and personal care products, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate functions as a surfactant

  • cleansing agent, a surfactant
  • foam booster or a surfactant
  • hydrotrope.
Scientific Facts

Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate is an anionic surfactant. This means that this ingredient has a negative charge. The negative charge is associated with the sulfosuccinate portion of the compound. Surfactants function by reducing the surface tension of water which makes it easier to wash dirt from the skin and hair.

Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate has a lauryl alcohol group that is ethoxylated. The lauryl alcohol group in disodium laureth sulfosuccinate is bound to a polyethylene glycol chain that contains an average of 1 to 4 ethoxy units. The ethoxylate of lauryl alcohol serves to increase the water solubility of the compound.