MEA-Laureth Sulfate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Monoethanolamine Laureth Sulfate
Synthetic
Cleanser
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Ethanol, 2-amino-, compd. with .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-(dodecyloxy)poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (1:1)
Effective at 9.0%
CAS #
68184-04-3
Form
Powder
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Removes Impurities
Cleansing Surfactant
Traditional Use
Developed in the mid-20th century as a synthetic surfactant derived from lauric acid. Created to provide gentle cleansing properties while being more biodegradable than earlier sulfate-based cleansers.
EWG
5
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.0002%
18.0%
0%25%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.0002-18
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR