Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Also known as: Sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate, Sarcosyl NL

An anionic surfactant used for cleansing and foam in facial washes, shampoos, and oral-care products.

Editorial review by the IngredientWiki Editorial Team
Updated 2026-09-28
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Cream cleanser foam crossing cobalt and rust-red paper waves — Editorial illustration

Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is an anionic cleanser made by attaching a lauroyl fatty chain to sarcosine. It can produce dense foam and is often blended with other surfactants. It is not a sulfate, but that label alone does not establish mildness; concentration and the finished formula matter.^{1, 2}

Anionic but not a sulfate surfactant^{1, 2}
Used in skin, hair, and oral-care products^{1, 2}
Helps oils disperse into rinse water^{1, 2}
Finished-formula irritation is concentration dependent^{1, 2}

What is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate?

This sarcosinate surfactant is selected when formulators want strong foam and cleansing with a different sensory profile from classic sulfates.^{1, 2}

Where it comes from

Natural sources

The lauroyl chain may come from coconut or palm-derived fatty acids

How it's made

Lauroyl chloride or fatty-acid derivatives are reacted with sarcosine and neutralized to the sodium salt.

What it does in products

Benefits

Cleansing and foam

moderate evidence

It lowers surface tension and helps lift oily soil into rinse water.²

The technical function is established, while consumer tolerance depends on the complete system.

Alternative to sulfate surfactants

limited evidence

It enables sulfate-free formulas but is still an active cleanser and can irritate at excessive exposure.²

No ingredient category guarantees a milder finished product.

Evidence scope and limitations

Cosmetic and oral-care surfactant use is covered, not ingestion as a supplement.

Published data do not rank finished cleansers by mildness.
Commercial materials vary in active concentration.

Evidence last checked: 2026-09-28

Side effects & safety

Dryness or irritation (uncommon)Risk rises with stronger formulas, long contact, or damaged skin.

Safety considerations

No specific warning is established for ordinary cosmetic or toothpaste use.
Not for: Known sensitivity to the finished product

Amounts studied & product use

These figures describe research or common product use, not a personal dose or treatment recommendation.

In skincare studies and products

Concentration varies by active matter and rinse-off application; the manufacturer validates irritation and oral-care limits in the finished product.

Regulatory status

A cosmetic or oral-care excipient, not an FDA-approved skin treatment active.
INCI name on cosmetic labels: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate.
CIR concluded use is safe under the assessed cosmetic conditions and concentration limits.

^{3, 2}

Sulfate-free answers a chemistry question, not a tolerance question

Sarcosinates lack the sulfate head group, yet they still remove oil. A cleanser can be sulfate-free and drying, or contain a sulfate within a balanced mild system.

Frequently asked questions

Is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate SLS?

No. It is a sarcosinate surfactant, chemically distinct from sodium lauryl sulfate.^{1, 2}

Is it safe in toothpaste?

It is used as an oral-care surfactant; swallowing large amounts of toothpaste is still not intended.^{1, 2}

The bottom line

Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a useful sulfate-free cleanser, but formula strength and exposure decide whether it feels mild.

References

Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate: compound summary. PubChem, National Library of Medicine (2026) · ingredient monograph · CID 23668817
Final report on the safety assessment of cocoyl sarcosine, lauroyl sarcosine, myristoyl sarcosine, oleoyl sarcosine, stearoyl sarcosine, and their salts. International Journal of Toxicology (2001) · safety assessment · PMID 11358107
FDA Authority Over Cosmetics: How Cosmetics Are Not FDA-Approved, but Are FDA-Regulated. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2013) · government guidance

Revision history

2026-09-28Initial publication with claim-level citations, formulation limits, safety context, and editorial evidence review.