Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate

Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate is a mild anionic surfactant commonly used in cleansers as a primary/secondary detergent (often a few percent in facial cleansers and higher in body washes), and it is generally well-tolerated compared with harsher sulfates. However, as a true cleansing surfactant it can still disrupt barrier lipids with frequent or prolonged contact, so stinging/tightness can occur in eczema-prone or highly reactive skin—especially in multi-surfactant, higher-foaming systems. Overall, clinical experience and patch-test data for taurate surfactants support a low but non-zero irritation risk, warranting a gentle (0.3) score rather than “very gentle” for compromised skin. Safety Notes: Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate is a mild anionic surfactant primarily used in rinse-off cleansers; in commercial formulas it can appear at low levels (~0.2–2%) as a secondary co-surfactant/foam modifier in syndet blends. Typical consumer facial cleansers and body washes more often use it around ~3–12% (as supplied-active basis), while high-strength consumer-available solid syndet bars, cleansing pastes, and concentrated foaming cleansers can reach ~15–25% to build primary detergency and bar structure. Leave-on use is uncommon and generally stays at the low end due to irritation potential and the ingredient’s surfactant function.