What is Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate?
Chemically, Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate (INCI name: Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate) is a cleansing surfactant. A mild sulfosuccinate surfactant named on some pore-clogging lists in the moderate range.
You may see it on labels as Disodium Monooleamido Peg 2-Sulfosuccinate, Peg 2 Sulfosuccinate, Sulfosuccinate, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate shows up
Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate is commonly formulated into facial cleansers, body washes, and shampoos. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate bad for acne-prone skin?
A moderate rating means Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate clogs some people and not others. If you're prone to congestion, patch-test a product that features it prominently before committing.
Worth flagging: Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.
Non-comedogenic alternatives
If you're avoiding Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Squalane — rated 1/5 (Low risk).
- Niacinamide — rated 0/5 (Low risk).