Lauric Acid

Lauric Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent. It appears in about 1% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 232 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameLAURIC ACID
FunctionCLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
CAS number143-07-7
EC number205-582-1
Prevalence1,112 products (1.2% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies232 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches3,600

Used in

Face Cleansers 71.7%Body Washes 11.6%Shampoos 4.4%Exfoliators 1.6%Body Scrubs 1.2%Makeup Removers 1.1%

Frequently asked

What does Lauric Acid do in skincare?
Lauric Acid functions as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Lauric Acid allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Lauric Acid?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially face cleansers (71.7% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Lauric Acid

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.