What is "AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE" and what does it do?

Role: AGGRESSIVE SURFACTANT

Family: AGGRESSIVE SURFACTANT

Comedogenic index: 0

It is a surfactant, i.e. a powerful cleansing agent, which can be aggressive on dry, sensitive skin.

Every cosmetic product we use every day is made up of a multitude of ingredients. Today, we focus on ammonium laureth sulfate, a popular but controversial ingredient.

To make ammonium lauryl sulfate milder, it undergoes a process of ethoxylation. This process involves adding ethylene oxide to ammonium lauryl sulfate, resulting in the formation of 1,4-dioxane.

According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), ammonium laureth sulfate can cause eye and skin irritation.

Impact on skin and hair
For many of us, ammonium laureth sulfate, like ammonium lauryl sulfate, is not ideal.
Because of the sulfates they contain, they are often perceived as aggressive, drying cleansers. They can particularly affect chemically-treated, dry, long or Afro-textured hair.

The action of these chemicals is to mix water and oil, thus eliminating impurities. However, this process can also strip skin and hair of their natural oils.

Sulfates, including ammonium laureth sulfate, have been in widespread use since the 1930s, coinciding with the rise of the modern shampoo industry.

Ammonium laureth sulfate is mainly used as a surfactant and cleanser in cosmetic products such as shampoos. As a surfactant, it helps reduce surface tension, promoting better product distribution. What's more, its ability to produce a beautiful lather makes it a popular choice with manufacturers.

Because of these properties, it is frequently used in cleansing cosmetics such as shower gels, shampoos and facial cleansers.

Find out more about "Inci" cosmetic ingredients