Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a mild yet effective cleansing and foaming agent commonly found in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers and bubble baths. It creates a rich, stable lather that helps remove dirt, oil and product build-up without stripping the skin or hair. Shoppers often see it listed as a primary surfactant in “sulphate-free” or “sulphate-alternative” formulas.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetic formulations Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate acts as an anionic surfactant that lowers surface tension, allowing water to mix with oils and impurities so they can be easily rinsed away. It produces abundant, creamy foam even in hard water and is valued for being more stable and less irritating than traditional alkyl sulphates. Formulators often pair it with amphoteric or non-ionic surfactants to further improve mildness and skin feel in UK beauty products.
Key benefits
- Creates rich, luxurious lather
- Effectively removes excess oil and impurities
- Works well in hard water
- Generally milder than traditional sulphates
- Helps improve rinse-off and product texture
- Suitable for use in both hair and body cleansers
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, normal skin, acne-prone skin
Where it comes from
It is produced synthetically from petroleum-derived alpha olefins (typically C14–C16 chain lengths) that undergo sulfonation. While not directly extracted from a plant or mineral, the raw materials can be sourced from both petrochemical and plant-based feedstocks.
Products with Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.