Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate

Benefits
Cleansing

What is Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate?

Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate is the sodium salt of a sulfated, ethoxylated alcohol with a 12-13 carbon chain length. It is synthetically produced by ethoxylating fatty alcohols derived from petroleum or plant sources, followed by sulfation and neutralization. Primarily incorporated into rinse-off personal care products such as shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and bubble baths. As a surfactant, it reduces water's surface tension, enabling better spreading and penetration. This property promotes micelle formation, where hydrophobic tails capture oils and soils while hydrophilic heads interact with water, allowing easy rinsing. It also generates stable foam for improved user experience and supports emulsification by stabilizing oil-water interfaces in formulations.

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:

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.
Emulsifying agent
Enables stable mixing of oil and water phases by forming an interfacial film, helping create lotions, creams, and cleansers with consistent texture.

Benefits

Delivers thorough cleansing by lifting away dirt, excess oil, and impurities.

Produces rich, creamy lather that enhances the cleansing sensation.

Assists in creating uniform product textures through emulsification.

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 seeking gentle yet effective daily cleansers for body and hair.
Those with extremely sensitive skin prone to irritation from surfactants.
Users preferring products with good foaming properties.
Individuals experiencing allergic reactions to sulfonated compounds.
People with normal to combination skin types using rinse-off formulas.
People preferring completely sulfate-free cleansing options.

Safety Notes

  • Considered safe for use in rinse-off cosmetics by cosmetic safety panels.
  • Exhibits lower irritation potential than non-ethoxylated sulfates in typical concentrations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate

What does Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate do in products?

It acts as a surfactant to cleanse by forming micelles that remove dirt and oil, while providing foam and aiding emulsion stability.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

It has a low irritation profile in rinse-off products, making it generally well-tolerated.

Where is it commonly found?

Typically in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers for everyday use.