Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate

INCI: SODIUM ETHYLHEXYL SULFATE

CAS Number
Not widely published (branched C8 alkyl sulfate sodium salt)
Function
Surfactant — cleansing, foaming
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted for cosmetic use

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Anionic surfactant in the alkyl sulfate class; shorter chain (2-ethylhexyl) can be more irritating to skin barrier than longer-chain sulfates; use concentration-dependent; formulate with care for leave-on products

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Concern Level: Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate safe in cosmetics?

Anionic surfactant in the alkyl sulfate class; shorter chain (2-ethylhexyl) can be more irritating to skin barrier than longer-chain sulfates; use concentration-dependent; formulate with care for leave-on products The EU classifies Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate allowed in the EU?

Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate do in cosmetics?

Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate functions as: Surfactant — cleansing, foaming. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: Not widely published (branched C8 alkyl sulfate sodium salt).

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Ethylhexyl Sulfate?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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