Ingredient glossary / Cleansing agent
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
On the label: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate · Cleansing agent
What it is
A mild foaming surfactant derived from an amino acid; used in toothpaste and gentle cleansers.
Cleansing agents: Surfactants lift oil and dirt so water can carry them off; the cleaning part of any wash, and what makes it foam.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q309660 →
In the research
7 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Influence of anionic surfactants on coacervation with cationic guar gum for hair care applications · International journal of cosmetic science, 2026
- The impacts of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser on facial skin microbiome and lipidome · Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2024
- Allergic contact dermatitis to isopropyl lauroyl sarcosinate · Contact dermatitis, 2021
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other cleansing agents
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.