A lactic acid-based anionic surfactant used as an emulsifier and cleansing agent.
What it is
Sodium isostearoyl lactylate is the sodium salt of the isostearic acid ester of lactyl lactate, made from isostearic acid, a branched C18 fatty acid, and lactic acid. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as creams, cleansers and hair care products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not reveal whether the fatty acid is of plant or animal origin.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.