Cetearyl Sulfate
What is Cetearyl Sulfate?
An anionic surfactant used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Helps oil and water mix and can provide gentle cleansing properties.
Roles in Formulation
This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:
Emollient
Softens and smooths skin by filling in surface roughness and improving slip; can also help reduce moisture loss when paired with occlusives and film formers.
Foam booster
Enhances foam volume and creaminess and can stabilize lather, improving sensory feel and perceived cleansing in shampoos and wash-off products.
Emulsifying agent
Enables stable mixing of oil and water phases by forming an interfacial film, helping create lotions, creams, and cleansers with consistent texture.
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.
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.