Decyl glucoside on your skin: a safety profile

What is decyl glucoside?

The IUPAC name is 1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Also known as: 1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, n-decyl beta-D-glucopyranoside.

IUPAC name

1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside

CAS number

54549-25-6

Molecular formula

C16H32O6

Molecular weight

320.42 g/mol

SMILES

CCCCCCCCCCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O

PubChem CID

3033856

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Decyl glucoside.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter decyl glucoside

• natural shampoo
• eco-friendly cleaners
• baby care
• facial cleansers

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Decyl glucoside:

• Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) — low irritation potential
  Trade-offs: Alternative surfactant; performance characteristics (foaming, emulsification, wetting) vary; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity should be assessed; formulation adjustment may be needed.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Sodium lauroyl glutamate — amino acid-based, very mild
  Trade-offs: Extremely mild (pH 5.5-6.5); biodegradable; derived from amino acids and fatty acids; premium ingredient cost; excellent consumer perception; lower foam volume than sulfate surfactants.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Cocamidopropyl betaine (amphoteric) — gentler than anionic surfactants
  Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions