Product Description 

Liquid Surfactant for Shampoo, Hand Wash & Cleansing Formulations

SLES 28% (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) is an anionic surfactant widely used as a primary cleansing and foaming agent in shampoos, hand washes, body washes, shower gels and other liquid cleansing formulations.

With approximately 28% active matter, this grade is generally supplied as an easy-to-handle liquid and can be incorporated into a wide variety of water-based surfactant systems.

SLES provides effective cleansing, detergency and abundant foam and is commonly combined with secondary surfactants such as CAPB (Cocamidopropyl Betaine) to modify foam, viscosity and the overall characteristics of the finished formulation.

Suitable for:
Shampoo • Hand Wash • Body Wash • Shower Gel • Liquid Cleansers • Bubble Bath • Personal Care Formulations • DIY Cosmetics

 

 

Product Specifications

Appearance:
Clear to slightly hazy, colourless to pale yellow viscous liquid. Appearance can vary somewhat by grade.

Odour:
Mild characteristic odour.

Solubility:
Soluble/dispersible in water and readily incorporated into compatible aqueous surfactant formulations.

Active Matter:
Approximately 28%.

Shelf Life:
Typically 24 months from the date of manufacture when stored correctly in the original tightly closed container.

 

Key Benefits

Effective Cleansing — Helps remove oil, dirt and everyday soil from skin and hair in properly formulated products.

High Foaming — Produces abundant, stable lather in compatible formulations.

Approx. 28% Active Matter — Convenient liquid grade for formulation and small-batch use.

Easy to Incorporate — Easier to handle and dilute than highly concentrated SLES paste grades.

Versatile Surfactant — Suitable for shampoos, hand washes, body washes and numerous cleansing formulations.

Works Well in Blends — Can be combined with compatible secondary surfactants to modify foam, mildness and viscosity.

 

Safety Information

For cosmetic and formulation use only.

Do not ingest.

SLES 28% is a concentrated surfactant raw material and should not be treated as a ready-to-use shampoo, hand wash or body wash.

Avoid direct contact of concentrated material with eyes. Concentrated surfactant solutions can cause significant eye irritation.

In case of accidental eye contact, rinse cautiously and thoroughly with clean water.

Avoid unnecessary prolonged skin contact with concentrated raw material.

Use suitable protective gloves and eye protection during bulk handling and formulation.

Avoid generating or inhaling mist.

Clean spills promptly, as surfactant solutions can make floors extremely slippery.

Keep out of reach of children.

Keep the container tightly closed to prevent contamination.

Store in a cool, dry place protected from direct sunlight, excessive heat and incompatible materials.

The safety and mildness of the finished cleansing product depend on the complete formulation, concentration and intended use, not SLES alone.

 

FAQs

1. What is SLES 28%?
SLES 28% is an aqueous grade of Sodium Laureth Sulfate containing approximately 28% active surfactant matter, commonly used in liquid cleansing formulations.

2. What is SLES used for?
It is widely used as a cleansing and foaming surfactant in shampoos, hand washes, body washes, shower gels and other liquid cleansers.

3. Is SLES 28% a liquid?
Yes. It is generally supplied as a clear to slightly hazy viscous liquid, making it convenient for many DIY and small-batch formulations.

4. What does 28% mean?
It refers approximately to the active surfactant content of the supplied product. The remainder is primarily the carrier/water phase and other constituents of the commercial grade.

5. Does SLES produce foam?
Yes. SLES is well known for producing abundant lather and good cleansing performance.

6. Can SLES 28% be used to make shampoo?
Yes. Shampoo is one of its major applications, normally as part of a complete surfactant and conditioning system.

7. Can SLES 28% be used for hand wash?
Yes. It can serve as a primary surfactant in appropriately formulated liquid hand washes.

8. Can it be used in body wash?
Yes. It is commonly used in body wash and shower-gel formulations.

9. Is SLES 28% water soluble?
Yes. It is designed for incorporation into water-based cleansing formulations.

10. Does SLES 28% require heating?
Not necessarily. Many formulations can incorporate liquid SLES without significant heating, although the processing method depends on the complete formulation.

11. What is the difference between SLES 28% and SLES 70%?
The main difference is concentration. SLES 28% contains roughly 28% active matter, while SLES 70% is a much more concentrated grade and is generally supplied as a thick paste.

12. Which is easier for beginners: SLES 28% or SLES 70%?
SLES 28% is generally easier to measure, mix and incorporate, while SLES 70% offers a higher active concentration and may be preferred where formulation space or transport efficiency matters.

13. Can I replace SLES 70% with SLES 28% in the same quantity?
No. The active concentrations are very different. A formulation needs to be recalculated according to the required active surfactant matter.

14. Is SLES the same as SLS?
No. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are related but chemically different surfactants and should not be treated as identical ingredients.

15. Is SLES sulfate-free?
No. SLES is a sulfate surfactant. A product containing SLES should not be marketed as “sulfate-free.”

16. Can SLES be combined with CAPB?
Yes. SLES + CAPB is a very common surfactant combination in personal-care cleansing formulations. CAPB can help modify foam characteristics, mildness and formulation behaviour.

17. Can SLES be combined with CMEA?
Yes, in compatible formulations. CMEA can be used to modify foam, foam stability and viscosity.

18. Can SLES be combined with EGMS?
Yes, in appropriately designed systems where a pearly or opaque appearance is desired.

19. How do I thicken an SLES formulation?
Viscosity depends on the complete surfactant system. Depending on the formulation, viscosity may be adjusted using electrolytes such as sodium chloride or suitable rheology modifiers, but the response should always be tested gradually.

20. Can I keep adding salt until my shampoo becomes thicker?
No. Many surfactant systems have a salt curve: viscosity rises only up to a certain point and can fall again if too much salt is added. Add gradually and test.

21. Is SLES safe for skin and hair?
SLES is widely used in rinse-off personal-care products, but suitability depends on the finished formulation, concentration, surfactant blend, pH and intended use. Concentrated raw SLES should not be confused with a finished cosmetic product.

22. Can I apply SLES 28% directly to my skin or hair?
No. It should be treated as a formulation raw material and incorporated at an appropriate level into a properly designed finished product.

23. Is SLES a preservative?
No. A water-containing cleansing formulation may require an appropriate preservative system depending on its composition.

24. Is SLES biodegradable?
SLES is generally regarded as readily biodegradable under standard test conditions, but environmental performance of a finished product depends on its complete formulation and disposal.

25. How should SLES 28% be stored?
Keep tightly closed in a cool, dry place protected from excessive heat, direct sunlight, contamination and incompatible materials,