Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Mild anionic surfactant from coconut fatty acids. Produces dense creamy foam, leaves skin soft, doesn't strip the skin. A modern mild-cleanser standard.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Low
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) is an anionic surfactant derived from coconut fatty acids and isethionate. One of the mildest sulfate alternatives. As a white powder it goes into syndets (synthetic detergent bars), gentle foam cleansers and shampoos. Mechanism. Builds a dense creamy lather even in hard water, lifts lipid soils by micellization but barely damages stratum corneum proteins. CMC (critical micelle concentration) is higher than for SLS, so patch-test irritation is roughly 3-5 times lower (Mehling 2007). Where applied. Dove Beauty Bar cleansing bars, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser face washes, Bioderma Sensibio and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Caring Wash foams, sulfate-free shampoos (Briogeo, Olaplex). In Spain – the backbone of Sesderma Sensyses, Isdin Ureadin gentle cleansers. Evidence base. Comparative studies versus SLS and SLES (Bárány 2000, Effendy 1995) showed less barrier disruption: TEWL after washing with SCI rises 10-15% versus 30-50% with SLS. Suitable for atopic and rosacea patients. Safety. CIR confirmed safety as a rinse-off ingredient in 2013 at concentrations up to 50%. Non-sensitizing, non-comedogenic, no systemic absorption. Pregnancy and lactation – safe. The rinse-off format leaves no residue on skin.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate safe during pregnancy?
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate for?
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate suits: normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive.
What is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and what does it do in cosmetics?
Mild anionic surfactant from coconut fatty acids.
What's the INCI name for Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate?
The INCI name is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate. It may also appear as: SCI.
See Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate in a product composition right on the store page
The Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to iHerb, Sephora, Druni and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.
Similar role in the formula
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