What function does SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE carries the following function designation(s): CLEANSING, DENATURANT, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING.

What other records share CAS 151-21-3?

CAS 151-21-3 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 3794615/10/2010

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 151-21-3

CAS 151-21-3PubChem CID 3423265

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium dodecyl sulfate is an organic sodium salt that is the sodium salt of dodecyl hydrogen sulfate. It has a role as a detergent and a protein denaturant. It contains a dodecyl sulfate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: sodium dodecyl sulfate

Molecular formula: C12H25NaO4S
Molecular weight: 288.38 g/mol
Exact mass: 288.13712473 Da
Topological polar surface area: 74.8 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 0
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 4
Covalent units: 2
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

Sodium dodecylsulfateSodium lauryl sulphateSodium dodecyl sulphateSodium n-dodecyl sulfateDodecyl sodium sulfateAnticerumenDuponalGardinol

16 more reported names

Stepanol methylNeutrazymeStepanol wacStepanol waqPerlandrol LPerlankrol LStepanol me drySintapon LFinasol osr2Standapol WAQStepanol WADuponol QCIncronol SLSMaprobix NEUMelanol CLDupanol WAQ

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:8984
ChEMBL:CHEMBL23393
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID1026031
PubMed:16679819
PubMed:11899262
PubMed:10344477
PubMed:9656847
PubMed:8811135
PubMed:1681644
PubMed:7312

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

INCI name

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

INN name

sodium lauryl sulfate

Ph. Eur. name

natrii laurilsulfas

Description

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 37946
Imported identity: SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

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Key data

CAS

151-21-3

205-788-1

Restriction

—

Function

CLEANSING: Helping to keep the body surface clean.
DENATURANT: Rendering cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol to make it unsuitable for ingestion.
FOAMING: Trapping numerous small bubbles of air or other gas within a small volume of liquid by modifying the surface tension of the liquid.
SURFACTANT - CLEANSING: Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING: Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#26768 · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

QUININEDENATURANT, FRAGRANCE, HAIR CONDITIONING

RESORCINOLANTIOXIDANT, DENATURANT, HAIR DYEING, PERFUMING

SODIUM 3-MERCAPTOPROPANE SULFONATEDENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, pH ADJUSTERS, SURFACE MODIFIER

SODIUM HYDROXIDEBUFFERING, DENATURANT

SODIUM MENTHYL SUCCINATEASTRINGENT, DENATURANT, FLAVOURING, ORAL CARE

SODIUM SALICYLATEDENATURANT, PRESERVATIVE

SUCROSE OCTAACETATEDENATURANT, FRAGRANCE

T-BUTYL ALCOHOLDENATURANT, PERFUMING, SOLVENT

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE is also tagged with 5 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 151-21-3 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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