Moderate Surfactant GHS Classified SCCS/CIR Reviewed Sensitization Data

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

CAS Number
151-21-3
Function
Surfactant; foaming agent; primary cleanser
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR assessed safe as used. Not ethoxylated — no 1,4-dioxane concern. Gold-standard irritant control in clinical patch testing. TEWL elevated from approximately 23 to 77 g·m⁻²·h⁻¹ vs water-treated skin in controlled studies.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
excl mark;warn
Hazard Statements
Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation Toxic to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause dermatitis.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body through the skin and by ingestion.

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

cir Number 7, 1983
Verdict: unknown

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
surfactant
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
3.5%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: NACDG; IVDK; ESSCA

Expert Verdict

Globally permitted with CIR and SCCS confirmation of safety as used. Not ethoxylated, eliminating 1,4-dioxane risk. However, it is a definitive skin barrier disruptor in clinical testing: TEWL greater than 3× baseline, significant ceramide extraction, and lipid bilayer disordering. Stinging rate of 63% in sensitive skin at 0.5% concentration. Clean-beauty and sulfate-free trends are driving reformulation to milder alternatives. Used as benchmark irritant and positive control in all surfactant safety testing.

⚠️
Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

sulfate barrier-disruptor irritant tewl-elevation clinical-benchmark eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE safe in cosmetics?

Globally permitted with CIR and SCCS confirmation of safety as used. Not ethoxylated, eliminating 1,4-dioxane risk. However, it is a definitive skin barrier disruptor in clinical testing: TEWL greater than 3× baseline, significant ceramide extraction, and lipid bilayer disordering. Stinging rate of 63% in sensitive skin at 0.5% concentration. Clean-beauty and sulfate-free trends are driving reformulation to milder alternatives. Used as benchmark irritant and positive control in all surfactant safety testing. The EU classifies SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE allowed in the EU?

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE do in cosmetics?

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE functions as: Surfactant; foaming agent; primary cleanser. It is classified as a Surfactant in our database. CAS number: 151-21-3.

What is the Margin of Safety for SODIUM LAURYL 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.

Is SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE classified as hazardous under GHS?

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed or in contact with skin Causes skin and eye irritation May cause respiratory irritation Toxic to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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