Sodium lauroyl glutamate on your skin: a safety profile

What is sodium lauroyl glutamate?

The IUPAC name is sodium N-lauroyl L-glutamate.

Also known as: sodium N-lauroyl L-glutamate, Sodium lauroyl L-glutamate, amino acid surfactant, Clobetasone.

IUPAC name

sodium N-lauroyl L-glutamate

CAS number

29923-31-7

Molecular formula

C17H30NNaO5

Molecular weight

351.4 g/mol

SMILES

CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)NC(CCC(=O)O)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]

PubChem CID

23668603

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Sodium lauroyl glutamate.

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 sodium lauroyl glutamate

• premium shampoo
• facial cleansers
• body wash
• luxury skincare

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium lauroyl glutamate:

• Decyl glucoside or other alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) — milder, plant-derived
  Trade-offs: Consumer preference for 'natural' label; many natural fragrance compounds are potent allergens (limonene, linalool, eugenol); 'natural' ≠ 'safe'; often more expensive than synthetic equivalents.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
• 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×
• 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