Database/Cleansing/Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate natural?

Mostly. Natural coconut lauryl alcohol and mineral sulfonate/sodium, diluted by a petrochemical maleic-anhydride-derived succinate backbone.

INCI nameDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CAS13192-12-6
FormulaC17H30Na2O7S · 424.5 Da
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockMade by esterifying coconut-derived lauryl alcohol with sulfosuccinic…

How we scored it

Lauryl (185 Da, natural) + 2 Na + SO3 (mineral, 126 Da, natural) vs succinate carbon backbone from maleic anhydride (99 Da, petrochemical) -> 311/410 = 0.76.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Michael addition of sulfite. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying coconut-derived lauryl alcohol with sulfosuccinic acid, itself made from petrochemical maleic anhydride reacted with sodium bisulfite, then neutralised with sodium. The alcohol and mineral portions are natural; the succinate carbon backbone is petrochemical.

In plain English

A mild, foam-boosting cleansing surfactant. Made by combining coconut-derived lauryl alcohol with a sulfonated backbone built from petrochemical maleic anhydride and mineral sulfite.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Achillea Millefolium Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from yarrow, a traditional herb, used to refresh and condition skin and help control oiliness. It's…

 Achillea Millefolium Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, used for its scent and soothing, cleansing properties. It comes directly…

 Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide 100% natural origin

A short chain of glucose sugar units made by fermenting sucrose with a bacterial enzyme. Used to cleanse,…

 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of fatty acids from babassu palm seed oil, used to cleanse and help stabilise the texture…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

Structure

2D structure of Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate

disodium;5-dodecoxy-5-oxo-4-sulfonatopentanoate

PubChem CID 71587028 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate. PubChem CID 71587028. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DISODIUM LAURYL SULFOSUCCINATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DISODIUM LAURYL SULFOSUCCINATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DISODIUM%20LAURYL%20SULFOSUCCINATE