Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate

What is Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate?

Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate is a disodium salt formed by combining lauroyl groups from lauric acid, typically derived from coconut or palm kernel oils, with glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid. This creates an anionic surfactant with a structure similar to skin lipids. Commonly found in shampoos, facial cleansers, body washes, and hair conditioners, it functions by reducing surface tension to produce stable foam, emulsify oils, and form micelles that encapsulate dirt and impurities for easy rinsing. Its mild nature helps retain the skin's and hair's natural moisture barrier during cleansing, minimizing dryness. The ingredient's biocompatibility supports its use in gentle, everyday personal care formulations, especially those designed for frequent washing without irritation.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores

EWG Safety Rating 1 View on EWG →

Roles in Formulation

This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:

Hair conditioning

Improves softness, shine, and manageability by reducing friction and static; commonly achieved with cationic agents, silicones, oils, or conditioning polymers.

Skin conditioning agent

Maintains skin softness, smoothness, and flexibility.

Surfactant

Lowers surface tension to enable cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming; central to shampoos, body washes, and many emulsions and micellar systems.

Cleansing agent

Removes dirt, oil, and impurities by lowering surface tension and forming micelles, enabling soils to be lifted and rinsed away from skin, hair, or teeth.

Benefits

Delivers effective yet soft cleansing action with rich lather.

Enhances skin and hair softness by mimicking natural lipids.

Supports non-comedogenic formulations unlikely to block pores.

Who It's For

A quick guide for who this ingredient may suit (and who should be cautious).

Who May Benefit	Who Should Avoid
Individuals with sensitive skin needing gentle daily cleansers.	Those with known allergies to amino acid derivatives.
People with dry or frizzy hair seeking conditioning washes.	People sensitive to coconut or palm-derived fatty acids.
Users preferring mild, foam-producing surfactants in rinse-off products.	Individuals who react to anionic surfactants after patch testing.

Safety Notes

Exhibits low potential for skin or eye irritation in cosmetic use.
Deemed safe at typical concentrations by cosmetic safety assessments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate

What products contain Disodium Lauroyl Glutamate?

Found in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and conditioners for mild foaming and cleansing.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, its mild profile makes it a common choice in gentle formulations for sensitive skin types.

How does it differ from typical surfactants?

Derived from amino acids and fatty acids, it cleanses softly while conditioning, unlike harsher synthetic options.