Encyclopedia · surfactant
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
An amino-acid-derived cleanser with good foam and cleaning power that is marketed as mild, though its mildness sits in the middle.
What it is
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is an N-acyl sarcosine salt (sarcosine is a derivative of glycine). It is used in shampoos, toothpaste and facial cleansers.
How it works
It forms anionic micelles. A 2024 facial cleanser study found no large change in skin physical measurements but reduced porphyrin, a marker linked to Cutibacterium acnes, and shifted some microbiome and lipid measures. It was done on the face, not the scalp (Zhao 2024).
What the studies show
- A Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessment of acyl sarcosines and sarcosinates noted they are used as hair-conditioning and cleansing agents, with low oral toxicity in rats, no mutagenicity in tested cells, and no carcinogenicity data (Lanigan 2001).
- In a self-controlled facial cleanser study, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate had no extensive effect on skin physical parameters and decreased porphyrin (Zhao 2024).
- A review gives an overview of shampoo surfactant raw materials and the trend toward sulfate-free systems (Cornwell 2018).
We found no hair-specific human trial for this ingredient. Claims about hair feel and dryness come from formulation science and manufacturer material.
Side effects and safety
It is generally well tolerated in finished formulas. We did not open the full safety conclusion of the review above.
Bottom line
A reasonable cleansing option. For very dry or sensitive scalps, prefer glutamate or isethionate-based blends. There is little hair-specific data.
Studies 3
Lanigan RS et al. Final report on the safety assessment of Cocoyl Sarcosine, Lauroyl Sarcosine, Myristoyl Sarcosine, Oleoyl Sarcosine, Stearoyl Sarcosine, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Ammonium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, and Ammonium Lauroyl Sarcosinate. 2001
Result: Used as hair-conditioning and cleansing agents; low oral toxicity in rats; not mutagenic in tested cells; carcinogenicity data not available.
Read the study ↗Zhao H et al. The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome. 2024
Tested: facial cleanser containing sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
Result: No extensive effect on skin physical parameters; decreased porphyrin; some microbiome and lipid measures shifted.
Read the study ↗Cornwell PA. A review of shampoo surfactant technology: consumer benefits, raw materials and recent developments. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2018
Result: Overview of shampoo surfactant raw materials, consumer benefits and trends in sulfate-free systems.
Read the study ↗Related
- Sodium cocoyl glutamateAn amino-acid-based cleanser that was among the best-tolerated surfactants in a 105-patient patch-test study, with no scalp or hair trials yet.
- Sodium cocoyl glycinateA glycine-based mild cleanser with one industry body-wash study showing mildness and no scalp or hair studies.
- Sodium lauryl sulfateA cheap, strong cleanser and foamer that removes oil very well but is the most irritating common shampoo surfactant, so dermatologists use it as their standard test irritant.