Sodium C12-14 Olefin Sulfonate

AKA: Surfactant, Anionic Surfactant, Alpha Olefin Sulfonate

Synthetic

Cleanser

Clean

Sulfonic acids, C12-14-alkane hydroxy and C12-14-alkene, sodium salts

CAS #

85536-12-5

Form

Liquid

Functions

Cleansing

Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.

Foaming

Cleansing

Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.

Removes Impurities

Creates Lather

Cleansing Surfactant

Removes dirt and impurities

Creates cleansing foam

Lifts away dirt and oil

Traditional Use

Synthesized in the mid-20th century from petroleum-derived olefins. Created as a biodegradable alternative to some harsher synthetic surfactants for use in cleansing products.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

CIR Safety Findings

medical-approval

all-shades-safe

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR