Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

WHAT IS SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE?

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a anionic surfactant which comparatively is milder than Sodium laureth Sulphate and Sodium lauryl Sulphate. It is biodegradable and is derived from the reaction of fatty acids (commonly coconut oil) and sarcosine (an amino acid). It is a detergent as with SLS and SLES and is used as a foaming and cleansing agent for shampoos, shaving foams, toothpastes and foam washes.

In one cosmetic ingredient review, tests show that Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate has low toxicity in rats and is non-irritating and non-sensitizing to animal and human skin. One concern however is that Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate enhances the penetration of other ingredients through the skin. Therefore, it should not be formulated with ingredients whose safety is based on their lack of absorption or where dermal absorption is a concern (e.g. HC Yellow No. 4, Disperse Yellow 3). At the same time, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate can be nitrosated to form carcinogenic compounds N-nitrosamine, so it is important that it should not be found together with N-nitroso compounds in the same product.

The toxicological properties of Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate have not been fully established. Based on all available data, it is concluded that Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is safe to be used in rinse-off products. It is best to avoid the use of Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate in leave-on and aerosol products.

No comments:

"All that mankind needs for good health and healing is provided by God in nature...the challenge of Science is to find it." - Paracelcus, the father of Pharmcology, 1493 - 1541