What Is Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt?

Learn about the cleansing, foaming, surfactant cleansing, and surfactant emulsifying characteristics of Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt?

Section Link

Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate is an ingredient commonly used in cosmetics that helps to clean and foam. It is known as a surfactant, which means it helps to mix oil and water-based ingredients together. Additionally, it can act as an emulsifier, which allows for the creation of smooth and consistent textures in products like lotions or creams. Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate itself is typically a colorless liquid or paste that contains dodecyl sulfate.

What is the purpose of Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt in personal care products? It is used for its cleansing, foaming, surfactant cleansing, and surfactant emulsifying characteristics. Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt removes impurities (dirt, oil, makeup, etc.) from your skin or hair, creates foam or bubbles, helps clean body surfaces, and helps mix liquids that don't usually mix.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt, Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, Dodecyl hydrogen sulfate--2,2',2''-nitrilotri(ethan-1-ol) (1/1), and "Sulfuric acid, dodecyl ester, compd. with 2,2',2''-nitrilotris[ethanol] (1:1)".

What Are Cleansing Ingredients?

Section Link

Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt has cleansing characteristics.

Cleansing ingredients in a cosmetic product help remove dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities from the skin or hair. These ingredients can come in various forms, including liquids, gels, foams, creams, and powders, and they work by interacting with the substances they come in contact with.

Cleansing Ingredients for Different Skin Types

When choosing a product with a cleansing ingredient, it's important to consider your skin or hair type and any particular concerns you may have.

If you have dry skin, avoiding products with harsh surfactants that can remove natural oils from your skin might be best. Instead, you may prefer a gentle cleanser that contains hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid.

In contrast, if you have oily skin or are prone to acne, you could try benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid products, which can remove excess oil and help unclog pores.

Types of Cleansing Ingredients

Many different types of cleansing ingredients are used in cosmetic products, and they can be derived from natural or synthetic sources. Here are some common types of cleansing ingredients you might find in cosmetic products:

  • Surfactants: These are molecules that help to break down oils and dirt on the skin, allowing them to be rinsed away with water. Examples of surfactants used in cosmetic products include sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium laureth sulfate, and decyl glucoside.

  • Solvents: Solvents are commonly used in cleansing cosmetic products as they effectively dissolve and remove various types of substances, such as oils, dirt, and makeup from the skin's surface. Examples of solvents used in cosmetic products include alcohol, glycerin, and propylene glycol.

  • Exfoliants: These are ingredients that help remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. Examples of exfoliants used in cosmetic products include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and physical exfoliants like sugar or salt.

What Are Foaming Ingredients?

Section Link

Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt has foaming characteristics.

Foaming ingredients are substances added to cosmetic products, such as soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste, to create foam or bubbles when mixed with water. When products with foaming ingredients are mixed with water and agitated, such as by rubbing your hands together when washing them, the foaming ingredient helps to create a large amount of foam or bubbles. These bubbles help to spread the product over the skin or hair, allowing it to better clean and remove dirt and oils.

These ingredients change the liquid's behavior, making it easier to trap tiny bubbles of air or gas within the liquid. This is done by altering the liquid's surface tension, which holds the liquid together. Lowering the surface tension makes it easier for the liquid to hold onto the gas bubbles, which results in the formation of foam or bubbles when the product is used.

Examples of foaming ingredients include surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), commonly used in shampoos and body washes. Other foaming agents include cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, and decyl glucoside.

What Are Surfactant Cleansing Ingredients?

Section Link

Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt has surfactant cleansing characteristics.

Surfactant cleansing ingredients are commonly found in various cosmetics, particularly those designed for cleansing, such as shampoo, body wash, and facial cleansers. These ingredients serve several purposes, including wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or dissolving oils, and suspending dirt and grime, making them easier to remove. Surfactants generally contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products, making them more effective in removing impurities from the skin or hair.

What Are Surfactant Emulsifying Ingredients?

Section Link

Dodecyl sulfate triethanolamine salt has surfactant emulsifying characteristics.

Surfactant emulsifying ingredients helps mix two liquids that do not usually mix well by reducing the surface tension of the ingredients. The emulsification process involves suspending or dispersing one liquid in a second liquid, such as oil in water or vice versa. However, these two liquids have different properties that cause them to repel each other and not mix. This is where surfactants come in, as they can reduce the liquids' surface tension and allow them to mix.

Surfactants have two ends: a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. When added to two liquids that do not mix well, the hydrophilic head attaches to the water-based liquid, while the hydrophobic tail attaches to the oil-based liquid. This creates a stable mixture of the two liquids and allows for a smooth and even distribution of ingredients in the cosmetic product.

Safety

Section Link

Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.