Sodium Tallow Sulfate
What Is It?
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Decyl Sulfate, Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate and Zinc Coco-Sulfate are salts of fatty alcohols bound to a sulfate group, also called alkyl sulfates. Coconut oil is the source of fatty alcohols for those ingredients with Coco in the name. Among these structurally-related ingredients, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is the most frequently used in cosmetics and personal care products. Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is the sodium salt of a mixture of cetyl and stearyl sulfate. It is a white to faintly yellow powder. In cosmetics and personal care products, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is used in the formulation of hair care products including shampoo, skin cleansers, and other skin care products.
Why Is It Used?
When used in cosmetics and personal care products, the alkyl sulfates have the following functions.
- SurfactantAn ingredient that helps two substances that normally do not mix to become dissolved or dispersed in one another. Also called a surface active agent. – cleansing agent – Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Magnesium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate, Zinc Coco-Sulfate
- Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate, Zinc Coco-Sulfate
- Surfactant – foam booster – Sodium Decyl Sulfate
- Surfactant 0 hydrotrope 0 Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate
Scientific Facts
Fatty alcohols are main components of the alkyl sulfate ingredients. Fatty alcohols are derived from natural fats and oils from plants and animals. Fatty alcohols have a hydroxyl group (-OH) in contrast to the carboxyl group (-COOH) found in fatty acids.
Safety Information
The safety of Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Decyl Sulfate, Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate and Zinc Coco-Sulfate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data concluded that these compounds were safe for use as cosmetic ingredient.
CIR Safety Review:
In addition to reviewing the safety of Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Decyl Sulfate, Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate and Zinc Coco-Sulfate, the CIR Expert Panel has reviewed the safety of the most commonly used alkyl sulfates, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and found these ingredients safe for use in rinse-off products, and safe for use in leave-on products at concentrations up to 1%.
The CIR Expert Panel has also reviewed the safety of some of the fatty alcoholAlcohols are a large class of important cosmetic ingredients but only ethanol needs to be denatured to prevent it from being redirected from cosmetic applications to alcoholic beverages. components of the alkyl sulfates including Coconut Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol and found these fatty alcohols safe for use as cosmetic ingredients. Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was not toxic in acute oral toxicity studies. Undiluted Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is a moderate eye irritant. Aqueous (20%) Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was not irritating to the eyes or skin. Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was also found to be less irritating to the skin than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Based on these data, and data on the related ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate and Zinc Coco-Sulfate were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients. If derived from plants, the alkyl sulfate ingredients may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions.. Ingredients derived from animals must comply with European Union animal by-products legislation.
Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm
More Scientific Information
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ammonium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Cetyl Sulfate, Sodium Coco/Hydrogenated Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Decyl Sulfate, Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate, Sodium Myristyl Sulfate, Sodium Oleyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearyl Sulfate, Sodium Tallow Sulfate, Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate and Zinc Coco-Sulfate are alkyl sulfates that function as surfactants in cosmetics and personal care products.
Resources
Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm
EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/