What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a cleansing surfactant. A harsh cleansing surfactant rated 5/5. Mostly a concern in leave-on products; in rinse-off cleansers its contact time is short.
You may see it on labels as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sls, Sodium Laurel Sulfate, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Sodium Lauryl Sulfate shows up
You'll most often find Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in facial cleansers, body washes, and shampoos. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 2/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate bad for acne-prone skin?
On acne-prone skin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has a real chance of contributing to congestion. Check its position on the ingredient list before you worry — concentration changes everything.
Non-comedogenic alternatives
If you're avoiding Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 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).