Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is the sodium salt of a mixture of cetyl and stearyl sulfate. It is a white to faintly yellow powder. In cosmetics and personal care products, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate is used in the formulation of moisturizers, skin cleansers, and other skin care products.
The safety of Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate has been assessed by the
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data concluded that Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was safe as a cosmetic ingredient.CIR Safety Review: In ocular irritation tests, 20.0%
aqueous Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was not irritating to the eyes. Twenty percent Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was not irritating to the skin. In a sensitization study, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was not a sensitizer. Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate was less irritating to the skin than
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, whose safety test data were summarized in the CIR report on Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate. Due to the chemical similarity of these two cosmetic ingredients, the safety test data on
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was considered to be applicable to the safety evaluation of this ingredient.
If derived from plants, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the
general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union. Ingredients derived from animals must comply with European Union animal by-products legislation.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...