Is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) made from coconut?
Sodium lauryl sulfate is made from lauryl alcohol. Lauryl alcohol is made from coconut oil, from palm kernel oil, or from petroleum, and the finished ingredient is the same whichever it was. The label never says which.
It is the classic foaming agent in toothpaste, shampoo and body wash. “SLS-free” products usually replace it with another cleanser from the same raw materials, so the claim says nothing about coconut.
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: sodium lauryl sulfate · sodium lauryl sulphate · sodium dodecyl sulfate · lauril sulfato de sodio · laurilsulfato de sodio · sls
Products we checked that contain it
2 of the 115 products in the registry. Each one read off the packet by a person, with the date.
Contains coconut (2)
The whole family: Sodium lauryl / laureth sulfate (SLS / SLES)
Related names: Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
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.