Functional Category 200 ingredients

Surfactants in Cosmetics

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that perform cleansing, foaming, emulsifying, and solubilising roles in cosmetic formulation. Anionic surfactants (SLS, SLES, sulfosuccinates) drive foaming in cleansers; non-ionic surfactants (polysorbates, ethoxylated alcohols) act as emulsifiers; amphoterics (cocamidopropyl betaine) reduce irritation in mild cleansers. Regulatory scrutiny focuses on 1,4-dioxane contamination in ethoxylated surfactants, nitrosamine formation in secondary amine precursors, and skin irritation profiles. This hub lists surfactant ingredients with their safety ratings, sensitization data from HRIPT and LLNA assays, and SCCS opinion references.

Functional Categories
Skin Conditioning Ingredients Humectants in Cosmetics Emollient Ingredients in Cosmetics Antioxidants in Cosmetics Surfactants in Cosmetics Emulsifiers in Cosmetics Fragrance Ingredients in Cosmetics Cosmetic Colorants Cosmetic Preservatives UV Filters & Sunscreen Ingredients Hair Conditioning Ingredients Rheology Modifiers & Thickeners Active Cosmetic Ingredients Plant Extracts & Botanical Ingredients
Regulatory Clusters
Cosmetic Ingredients Flagged as Endocrine Disruptors Cosmetic Ingredients Listed Under California Proposition 65 Cosmetic Ingredients with SCCS Safety Opinions Cosmetic Ingredients with CIR Expert Panel Conclusions Cosmetic Ingredients with GHS Hazard Classification Cosmetic Ingredients with NOAEL Toxicological Data Cosmetic Ingredients Banned or Restricted Globally Cosmetic Ingredients with Sensitization Data Cosmetic Ingredients with Dermal Absorption Data Cosmetic Ingredients Restricted Under EU Regulation 1223/2009
Browse A-Z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Ingredient Safety
3-Aminopropane Sulfonic Acid GOOD
AMMONIUM POLYACRYLATE GOOD
AMP-C8-18 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate POOR
AMP-ISOSTEAROYL GELATIN/KERATIN AMINO ACIDS/LYSINE HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE MODERATE
AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen GOOD
AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Elastin GOOD
AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin GOOD
AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk GOOD
AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein MODERATE
AMP-Isostearoyl Wheat/Corn/Soy Amino Acids GOOD
AMPD-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen GOOD
Abietic Acid MODERATE
Acacia Seyal Gum Octenylsuccinate MODERATE
Acetyl Mannosylerythritol Lipid GOOD
Acetylated Hydrogenated Tallow Glyceride GOOD
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters GOOD
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters GOOD
Agaricus Blazei/Ganoderma Lucidum/Multipileum Ferment Extract MODERATE
Almondamide DEA MODERATE
Almondamidopropyl Betaine GOOD
Almondamidopropylamine Oxide GOOD
Almondeth-20 GOOD
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide-1 EXCELLENT
Aluminum Capryloyl Hydrolyzed Collagen GOOD
Aluminum Hydrogenated Tallow Glutamate GOOD
Amarantheth-20 MODERATE
Aminoethyl Sulfate MODERATE
Aminopropyl Laurylglutamine GOOD
Ammonium Acryloyl Dimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer EXCELLENT
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer GOOD
Ammonium Beta-Sitosteryl Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium C12-15 Pareth Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium C12-16 Alkyl Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium C6-16 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate POOR
Ammonium C9-10 Perfluoroalkylsulfonate POOR
Ammonium Capryleth Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Coco-Sulfate MODERATE
Ammonium Cocomonoglyceride Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Cocoyl Isethionate EXCELLENT
Ammonium Cocoyl Sarcosinate GOOD
Ammonium Cumenesulfonate GOOD
Ammonium Dimethicone PEG-7 Sulfate MODERATE
Ammonium Dinonyl Sulfosuccinate GOOD
Ammonium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate MODERATE
Ammonium Ethylene/MA Copolymer GOOD
Ammonium Isostearate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate MODERATE
Ammonium Laureth-12 Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth-5 Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth-6 Carboxylate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth-7 Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth-8 Carboxylate GOOD
Ammonium Laureth-9 Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Lauroyl Sarcosinate GOOD
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate EXCELLENT
Ammonium Myreth Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Myristyl Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Nonoxynol-30 Sulfate MODERATE
Ammonium Nonoxynol-4 Sulfate MODERATE
Ammonium Oleate GOOD
Ammonium Palm Kernel Sulfate GOOD
Ammonium Perfluorohexyl Ethylphosphates POOR
Ammonium Shellacate GOOD
Ammonium Stearate EXCELLENT
Ammonium Tallate GOOD
Ammonium Trideceth-6 Phosphate GOOD
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Powder GOOD
Apricot Kernel Oil PEG-40 Esters GOOD
Apricot Kernel Oil PEG-8 Esters MODERATE
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Esters EXCELLENT
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters EXCELLENT
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters EXCELLENT
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-5 Esters EXCELLENT
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters MODERATE
Apricotamide DEA MODERATE
Apricotamidopropyl Betaine GOOD
Arabinoxylan EXCELLENT
Arachideth-20 MODERATE
Arachideth-22 MODERATE
Arachideth-27 MODERATE
Arachideth-32 MODERATE
Arachideth-37 MODERATE
Arachideth-42 MODERATE
Arachidic Acid GOOD
Arachidyl/Behenyl Alcohol EXCELLENT
Argan Oil PEG-8 Esters GOOD
Arginine Cocoate GOOD
Arginine Hexyldecyl Phosphate GOOD
Arginine Lauraminopropionate GOOD
Arginine Laureth Sulfate MODERATE
Arginine Lauroyl Glutamate EXCELLENT
Arginine Lauroyl Glycinate GOOD
Arginine Lauroyl Methyl Beta-Alaninate GOOD
Arginine PEG-4 Cocamide Sulfate MODERATE
Astrocaryum Vulgare Oil PEG-8 Esters MODERATE
Astrocaryum Vulgare Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters MODERATE
Avocadamide DEA MODERATE
Avocadamide DIPA MODERATE
Avocadamidopropyl Betaine MODERATE
Avocado Oil Glycereth-8 Esters MODERATE
Avocado Oil PEG-11 Esters MODERATE
Avocado Oil Propylene Glycol Esters MODERATE
Azelamide MEA MODERATE
BABASSUAMIDOPROPYLAMINE OXIDE GOOD
BENZALKONIUM MONTMORILLONITE GOOD
BIFIDOBACTERIUM/LACTOBACILLUS/STREPTOCOCCUS/PANAX NOTOGINSENG RHIZOME/ROOT EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE GOOD
BIS(PPG-7 UNDECENETH-21) DIMETHICONE GOOD
BIS-PEG-3 POLYGLYCERYL-3 ETHER GOOD
Babassu Acid MODERATE
Babassu Oil Glycereth-8 Esters MODERATE
Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters MODERATE
Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters MODERATE
Babassuamide DEA MODERATE
Babassuamidopropyl Betaine GOOD
Babassuamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine MODERATE
Babassuamidopropyltrimonium Methosulfate MODERATE
Barium/Calcium/Silicon/Titanium Oxide GOOD
Beeswax Acid EXCELLENT
Behenalkonium Chloride MODERATE
Behenamide DEA MODERATE
Behenamide MEA GOOD
Behenamidopropyl Betaine GOOD
Behenamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride GOOD
Behenamine Oxide GOOD
Beheneth-10 EXCELLENT
Beheneth-15 EXCELLENT
Beheneth-20 GOOD
Beheneth-25 GOOD
Beheneth-30 GOOD
Behenoyl Stearic Acid MODERATE
Behentrimonium Chloride MODERATE
Behentrimonium Methosulfate MODERATE
Behenyl Betaine MODERATE
Benzalkonium Sepiolite MODERATE
Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters GOOD
Betula Alba Leaf Extract GOOD
Betula Pendula Twig Extract GOOD
Betula Pubescens Twig Extract MODERATE
Bis-(Glyceryl/Lauryl) Glyceryl Lauryl Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3 GOOD
Bis-Cetyl/PEG-8 Cetyl PEG-8 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-Methoxy PEG-114 Polycaprolactone Diol/IPDI Copolymer MODERATE
Bis-PEG-1 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG-10 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG/PPG-18/6 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone GOOD
Bis-PEG/PPG-21/7 Dimethicone MODERATE
Bis-Succinoyl TMP Dimethicone GOOD
Borage Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters GOOD
Borage Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters GOOD
Buteth-3 Carboxylic Acid GOOD
Butoxynol-19 Carboxylic Acid MODERATE
Butoxynol-5 Carboxylic Acid MODERATE
Butyl Babassuate EXCELLENT
Butyl Glucoside GOOD
Butyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Butylglucosides Chloride MODERATE
Butyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Laurylglucosides Chloride MODERATE
Butylene Glycol Behenate MODERATE
Butylene Glycol Isostearate GOOD
Butylene Glycol Isostearates GOOD
Butylene Glycol Laurate GOOD
Butylene Glycol Myristate GOOD
Butylene Glycol Oleate GOOD
Butylene Glycol Palmitate GOOD
Butylene Glycol Sesquiisostearate MODERATE
Butylglucoside Caprate GOOD
Butyloctanoic Acid GOOD
C10-14 Alkyl Benzenesulfonic Acid MODERATE
C10-16 Pareth-1 GOOD
C10-16 Pareth-2 GOOD
C10-18 Triglycerides Polyglyceryl-3 Esters Phosphates MODERATE
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters EXCELLENT
C11-13 Pareth-10 GOOD
C11-13 Pareth-6 GOOD
C11-13 Pareth-9 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-12 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-15 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-20 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-3 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-30 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-40 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-5 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-7 GOOD
C11-15 Pareth-7 Carboxylic Acid MODERATE
C11-15 Pareth-9 GOOD
C11-15 Sec-Pareth-12 MODERATE
C11-21 Pareth-10 GOOD
C11-21 Pareth-3 GOOD
C12-13 Pareth-1 GOOD
C12-13 Pareth-10 GOOD
C12-13 Pareth-10 Phosphate MODERATE
C12-13 Pareth-12 Carboxylic Acid MODERATE
C12-13 Pareth-15 MODERATE
C12-13 Pareth-2 Phosphate MODERATE
Ingredient Decoder
Paste any INCI list for instant analysis
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology