Texapon (SLeS/ Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Liquid)

Description

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLeS or SLES), also known as Texapon or Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a raw material for making liquid soaps without lye. It is a surfactant or foaming agent that creates a rich bubbly, foamy lather when added to a liquid.

SLES has a strong foaming capability and a strong cleansing property – it can bind to and break down oils and dirt, and further remove dirt and oil when rinsed off. Due to its foaming and cleansing properties, SLES can be found on the ingredient label of many cleaning products including skin care (hand wash, shower gels and body washes), hair care products (shampoos) and household cleaning products (dish wash, car wash).

INCI Name: Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Other Names: Texapon, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Ingredient Function: Surfactant, Primary Surfactant, Foaming and Cleansing Agent, Solubilizer

Derived From: Typically derived from coconut oil or palm kernel. Also synthetically made.

Surfactant Type: Anionic Surfactant

Appearance: Thick paste/ Clear, viscous liquid

Smell: Faint detergent-like odour

Texture: Soapy/ slippery detergent-feel

ASM (Active Surfactant Matter): 26% to 70%

Solubility: Water-soluble

Usage Rate: 0.01% to 50% in skin and hair care products; 1% to 30% in household and non-personal cleaning products.

PH Value: 7 to 8 (in 10% solution)

Common Types of Products Formulated with SLES/ Texapon: Riinse-off products such as shampoo, body wash, shower gel, household cleaning products, hand wash, dish wash, car wash, liquid detergents.

Formulation Notes:

• Add SLeS to the water phase of your formulation
• It can be add during the cold (cold-process) or hot (hot-process) phase of a formulation
• NOTE: SLES is a Sulfate-based Surfactant; some people are sensitive to Sulfates. SLES may cause irritation of the eyes or skin in some people, mostly sensitive skin types.
• SLES can be drying on the skin and hair, due to its ability to strip away oils from surfaces (including the natural oils and sebum on the skin and hair) and clean to squeaky-clean.

Sulfate-Free Substitutes or Alternatives to SLES/ Texapon: Decyl Glucoside, SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate), Sodium Coco Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside.

SLES vs SLS: SLES is a modified and improved version of SLS. SLES is safe to use in bath and body care products and is milder on the skin than its predecessor, SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate). Unlike SLS, Sodium Laureth Sulfate won’t irritate the skin or strip it of  excess moisture.