Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

What is Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate?

Sodium lauroyl lactylate is an emulsifier made from lauric acid, a fatty acid, joined to lactic acid units and turned into a sodium salt. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel describes it as the sodium salt of the lauric acid ester of lactyl lactate.

You’ll see it in creams, lotions, cleansing milks and some gentle face washes, usually in the middle or lower part of the ingredient list. Some labels shorten it to lauroyl lactylate. Despite the similar-looking name, it isn’t sodium lauroyl sarcosinate or sodium lauryl sulfate. Each of those is a different molecule with a different job.

What does Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate do?

• Keeps oil and water together. Its structure has a water-loving end and an oil-loving end, so it helps an emulsion stay smooth instead of separating in the jar.
• Adds mild cleansing. It is classed as a surfactant, so in a cleanser it can help lift oil and makeup, usually alongside a main cleansing agent.
• Shapes the feel of a cream. As a co-emulsifier it can help a lotion spread evenly and feel lighter.

It is a helper ingredient. There isn’t good evidence that it does anything for your skin on its own beyond helping the formula work.

Who is Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate for?

It shows up in products for every skin type, including formulas aimed at dry or sensitive skin. Most people won’t notice it at all.

The safety review found it may cause skin sensitization in animal tests, and its safe-use conclusion assumes the finished product is formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. If you’ve reacted to several emulsified creams and can’t find the cause, it’s one ingredient to note when you compare labels. A dermatologist can patch-test you to find a real trigger. For everyone else, it’s a routine part of how creams are made.

What to pair Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate with, and what to avoid

There’s nothing to pair. It works inside the formula with other emulsifiers, oils and water. You don’t need to seek it out or avoid it. If your skin barrier feels stressed, the barrier repair guide covers what to look for in the moisturizer as a whole.