Is laureth-4 made from coconut?
Laureth-4 is lauryl alcohol that has been made water-friendly; the number says how far. Laureth-2, laureth-3, laureth-7 and laureth-23 are the same family with different numbers. Lauryl alcohol is made from coconut oil, palm kernel oil or petroleum, and the label never says which.
The laureths help oil, fragrance and water stay mixed, so they turn up in creams, hair products, shaving products and cleansers.
More often than not, this one turns out to be coconut or palm kernel, so it holds a product’s verdict open on its own.
On a label: laureth-4 · laureth 4
Products we checked that contain it
3 of the 117 products in the registry. Each one read off the packet by a person, with the date.
Contains coconut (3)
- 911 Quinoa Shampoo (250 ml) · Biotop ProfessionalContains Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydrogenated Coconut OilChecked September 2026
- Keratin Therapy Lisse Design Maintenance Shampoo (250 ml) · Alfaparf MilanoContains Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocoyl, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut, Cocamidopropyl BetaineChecked September 2026
- Semi di Lino Moisture Nutritive Shampoo · Alfaparf MilanoContains Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocoate, CocoChecked September 2026
The whole family: Laureth- (laureth-4, laureth-7…)
Related names: Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate
Whether this matters for you depends on which kind of coconut allergy you have →
Check a label for this and everything else →
Reactions to refined derivatives vary from person to person. This list helps you ask better questions; your allergist decides what you avoid. Educational only, not medical advice. Always confirm with your allergist.