Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate is an anionic surfactant used primarily in cleansers and shampoos (often a few percent up to ~10% in rinse-off products) and is generally milder than SLS/SLES, but it can still disrupt the stratum corneum and sting compromised skin. Human repeat-insult/patch testing and real-world use show low-to-moderate irritation potential that increases with higher concentration, longer contact time, and in eczema or barrier-impaired patients. Given cleanser cumulative exposure and the fact that reactive individuals can flare even with “mild” surfactants, it warrants a mild (not gentle) score. Safety Notes: Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate is a mild anionic surfactant primarily used in rinse-off cleansers; in commercial products it appears at low levels (~0.5–2%) as a secondary/foam-modifying surfactant in gentle facial washes and micellar/cleansing gels. Mid-to-high use levels (5–15%) are common in sulfate-free shampoos and body washes, while the upper end (~20–25%) is observed in high-foaming concentrated surfactant systems such as cleansing pastes, shampoo concentrates, and some solid cleanser formats sold OTC (typically quoted as active matter basis varying by supplier). Leave-on use is uncommon and generally kept very low due to irritation potential and tack/feel constraints, so the high end is essentially confined to rinse-off products.