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Ingredient register

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Limit Skin irritant Cosmetics and personal care

Decode Label flags Sodium Lauryl Sulfate as a moderate concern in cosmetics and personal care (skin irritant). It appears in 20 of the 893 published products we have analysed (2.2%).

The concern

Surfactant — strong skin and mucous membrane irritant

SLS is an aggressive surfactant that strips skin of its natural oils, disrupts the skin barrier, and can cause contact dermatitis, canker sores, and eye irritation. People with eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin should avoid SLS-containing products. It is particularly harsh in oral care products where it contacts mucous membranes.

Most relevant to

People prone to allergies People with eczema Anyone using this regularly

Cited authority

SCCS; American Academy of Dermatology; Herlofson & Barkvoll 1996

How common it is in this catalogue

Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.

20 of 893 published products 2.2%

By category

Oral Care 13
Haircare 4
Bath & Body 2
Baby & Kids 1

Identity

Also appears on labels as

SLS Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate SDS

Questions

Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate safe?

The concern is cited to SCCS; American Academy of Dermatology; Herlofson & Barkvoll 1996. Why it is flagged: Surfactant — strong skin and mucous membrane irritant. Decode Label treats it as a moderate concern in cosmetics and personal care. It appears in 20 of the 893 published products we have analysed (2.2%).

How common is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in Indian packaged products?

Decode Label found Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in 20 of 893 published products (2.2%), most often in Oral Care, Haircare, Bath & Body.

Who should be most careful with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

People prone to allergies; People with eczema; Anyone using this regularly.

Products containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

20 published products, each with its own full analysis.

Cetaphil Baby Mild Cleansing Bar Colgate Active Salt Toothpaste Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste, Red Gel Paste with Men... Colgate MaxFresh Breath Freshner Oral Care Toothpast... Colgate Sensitive Everyday Protection Toothpaste Colgate Strong Teeth Colgate Strong Teeth Calcium-Boost Toothpaste Colgate Swarna Vedshakti Ayurvedic Cavity Protection... Colgate Visible White O2, Teeth Whitening Toothpaste DABUR Herb'L Activated Charcoal Toothpaste 240G Dabur Babool Ayurvedic Toothpaste Dabur Herb'l Neem Germ Protection Toothpaste Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Anti Hair Fall Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Smooth and Silky Anti Dandru... Mildy Every Day Shampoo Pears Original Glycerin Soap Bar STIM Spark Instant Whitening Toothpaste Santoor Classic Gentle Hand Wash with Natural goodne... Sensodyne Toothpaste Fresh Mint

Related ingredients

Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.

Methylisothiazolinone Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate Benzisothiazolinone CI 47000 Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

Method and limits

  • Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 893 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
  • Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
  • A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
  • No regulatory rows. This substance is not matched in our regulatory warehouse, so the concern above rests on the cited authority alone.
  • Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 28 September 2026.
  • Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.