Zinc Coco-Sulfate

Safety Information

United States (U.S.)

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 Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data concluded that these compounds were safe for use as cosmetic ingredient.

Additionally, the Expert Panel has reviewed the safety of the most commonly used alkyl sulfates, sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium sauryl 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 Expert Panel has also reviewed the safety of some of the fatty alcohol 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 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.

European Union (EU)

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 Union. 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

Resources

Search the Code of Federal Regulations

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EU Cosmetics Inventory

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Zinc Coco-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.

Surfactant – 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.

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.