What a 5/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 5 is the top of the scale — highly likely to clog pores when used at meaningful concentration. That means Sodium Lauryl Sulfate deserves attention if you break out easily, especially when it appears high on an ingredient list.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Sodium Lauryl Sulfate near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
It is a surfactant — a cleansing or foaming agent that lifts oil and grime. A harsh cleansing surfactant rated 5/5. Mostly a concern in leave-on products; in rinse-off cleansers its contact time is short.
On a label it can read as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sls, Sodium Laurel Sulfate — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in makeup and skincare
It appears in cleansers, micellar waters, and makeup-removing washes. Its irritancy is rated separately at 2/5, which is low.
Lower-rated alternatives to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Squalane — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Niacinamide — comedogenic rating 0/5 (Low risk).
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate comedogenic FAQ
Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate comedogenic?
It can be. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is rated 5/5 (high risk) on the 0–5 comedogenic scale, so it has a real chance of clogging pores on acne-prone skin, especially high on an ingredient list.
What is the comedogenic rating of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has a comedogenic rating of 5/5 (high risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, none rate higher than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, 177 rate lower, and 12 others share its 5/5. Among the 5 rated surfactants, none rate higher and 4 lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate pore-clogging?
It is one of the more likely ones. At 5/5, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is in the high-risk band. It matters most when it appears near the top of an ingredient list, where it makes up a larger share of the product. Comedogenic ratings come mostly from rabbit-ear assays and small human patch tests of the pure ingredient at high concentration, so they are a screening guide, not a prediction for your skin or a medical claim.