Good Surfactant

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

INCI: SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE

CAS Number
137-16-6
Function
Surfactant; foaming agent; secondary cleanser
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes CIR assessed safe as used. Amino acid (sarcosine/N-methylglycine) derivative. Readily biodegradable. EWG low concern. Commonly positioned as sulfate-free anionic surfactant.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

N-acyl sarcosinate anionic surfactant derived from amino acid sarcosine with approximately 30% lower Zein irritation score than SLS (2,170 vs 3,070โ€“3,080 mg/g). Produces moderate, creamy foam and is commonly used as secondary surfactant or primary in sulfate-free systems targeting sensitive and atopic skin. CIR confirmed safe as used, readily biodegradable, and suitable for premium formulations.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

amino-acid-surfactant sulfate-free biodegradable mild-anionic epa_safer_alternative

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate safe in cosmetics?

N-acyl sarcosinate anionic surfactant derived from amino acid sarcosine with approximately 30% lower Zein irritation score than SLS (2,170 vs 3,070โ€“3,080 mg/g). Produces moderate, creamy foam and is commonly used as secondary surfactant or primary in sulfate-free systems targeting sensitive and atopic skin. CIR confirmed safe as used, readily biodegradable, and suitable for premium formulations. The EU classifies Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate allowed in the EU?

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

What does Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate do in cosmetics?

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate functions as: Surfactant; foaming agent; secondary cleanser. It is classified as a Surfactant in our database. CAS number: 137-16-6.

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate?

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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