Product Overview
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) at 70% concentration is one of the most widely used anionic surfactants across the personal care, pet care, cleaning, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors worldwide. It is produced by ethoxylating lauryl alcohol — derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil — followed by sulfation to form a highly effective, water-soluble surfactant. The INCI name is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, commonly abbreviated as SLES. The 70% grade refers to the active matter concentration, making it a concentrated, cost-efficient base for high-performance formulation across multiple product categories.
SLES delivers powerful foaming, strong grease and soil removal, and reliable cleansing across a broad range of formulation pH values. It functions as the primary anionic surfactant in shampoos, body washes, household cleaners, industrial degreasers, pharmaceutical topical preparations, and professional pet grooming products. When balanced with mild amphoteric or non-ionic co-surfactants, SLES can be formulated into products suitable for regular use. Its broad industry applicability and cost-performance ratio make it one of the most established and trusted surfactant ingredients available today.
Key Features & Benefits
- High-foaming anionic surfactant that produces a rich, dense lather with strong cleansing and degreasing action.
- Derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil — a renewable, naturally sourced fatty alcohol feedstock.
- Effectively removes heavy soiling, grease, oils, dander, and odor across personal care, pet, pharma, and industrial applications.
- Highly water-soluble and stable across a broad pH range, ensuring consistent performance in diverse formulation systems.
- Compatible with amphoteric, non-ionic, and cationic co-surfactants for balanced, multi-functional formulation design.
- Cost-effective at 70% active matter concentration — a high-value ingredient for both small-batch and high-volume manufacturing.
- Functions as an emulsifier in topical pharmaceutical preparations, improving the texture and delivery of active ingredients.
Applications
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate 70% is used across five industry categories served by EZ Elements.
- Shampoos and conditioning shampoos for all hair types — including volumizing, anti-dandruff, and color-safe formats
- Body washes, shower gels, and liquid hand soaps for everyday consumer and salon use
- Bubble baths, bath foams, and luxury bathing products requiring high foam volume
- Toothpaste formulations as a foaming and cleansing agent
- Shaving gels and creams where dense, stable lather is required
- Dog shampoos across all formats — standard, medicated, flea-control, and professional grooming concentrates
- High-lather professional grooming shampoos for salon, kennel, and veterinary facility use
- Horse and livestock grooming cleansers where effective heavy soil removal is required
- General-purpose pet bathing and animal facility sanitation products
Household all-purpose cleaners, surface sprays, and floor cleaning products
- Dishwashing liquids — manual and automatic pre-wash formulations
- Laundry pre-treatment sprays and liquid detergents requiring strong soil lifting
- Bathroom and kitchen cleaning products where high foam and grease removal are priorities
- Emulsifier and mild surfactant in topical creams, ointments, and gel formulations
- Medicated shampoos and scalp treatment products where effective cleansing is combined with active delivery
- Pharmaceutical equipment and laboratory surface cleaning formulations
- Foaming agent in oral care pharmaceutical products such as medicated toothpaste and mouthwash
- Industrial degreasers and heavy-duty cleaning concentrates for equipment and machinery
- Textile industry — dyeing, printing, wetting, and fiber cleaning processes
- Automotive cleaning and car wash formulation bases
- Agricultural chemical formulations as a surfactant to improve herbicide absorption and rain fastness
- Paper-making, building materials, and plastic processing applications
Technical Specifications
| Property | Specification |
| INCI Name | Sodium Lauryl Sulfate |
| CAS No. | 68585-34-2 |
| Common Abbreviation | SLES |
| Appearance | Clear to slightly hazy viscous liquid |
| Active Matter | 70% ± 2% |
| pH (10% Solution) | 7.5 – 9.5 |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water |
| Ionic Type | Anionic |
| Ethoxylation Degree | 2 – 3 moles EO (standard grade) |
| Origin | Coconut oil or palm kernel oil-derived lauryl alcohol |
| Recommended Use Level | 5% – 20% active in finished formulations |
| Viscosity (neat) | High viscosity liquid; thins substantially upon dilution |
Why Choose EZ Elements as Your Supplier
EZ Elements supplies cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial-grade Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES 70%) with consistent active matter content, verified batch quality, and complete regulatory documentation to support manufacturing across personal care, pet care, pharmaceutical, cleaning, and industrial applications in Canada and North America.
We supply formulators, private label brands, contract manufacturers, and industrial producers across all applicable EZ Elements industry categories, providing:
- Full documentation: Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA), and Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Bulk supply with competitive, transparent pricing per kilogram
- Flexible packaging options suited to both small-batch and high-volume production requirements
- Technical support for dilution guidance, formulation compatibility, and co-surfactant selection across all industry segments
Safety & Storage Guidelines
- Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and freezing temperatures.
- Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent contamination, moisture ingress, and viscosity change over time.
- Wear appropriate protective gloves and eyewear when handling undiluted material — avoid direct contact with eyes and skin.
- In the event of eye contact, rinse continuously with clean water for a minimum of 15 minutes and seek medical advice.
- Do not combine with strong acids, oxidizing agents, or cationic surfactants in undiluted form without prior compatibility assessment.
- Always dilute to the intended use concentration and perform full stability and compatibility testing before commercial production.
Complete handling, first aid, emergency response, and disposal instructions are provided in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available from EZ Elements upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which industries use SLES 70%?
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate 70% is used across five industries: Personal Care (shampoos, body washes, toothpaste, shaving gels), Pet Care (dog shampoos, professional grooming products, kennel cleaners), Cleaning & Sanitation (household cleaners, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents), Pharmaceutical (topical creams, medicated shampoos, pharmaceutical equipment cleaning), and Industrial (textile processing, automotive cleaning, agricultural herbicide formulations, industrial degreasers). Note: SLES is not used in food or beverage products.
Q2: What is the difference between SLES and SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)?
SLES is produced by ethoxylating lauryl alcohol before sulfation, introducing ethylene oxide units into the molecular structure. This makes SLES significantly milder and less irritating to skin and mucous membranes than SLS, while retaining strong foaming and cleansing performance. For most personal care, pet care, pharmaceutical, and cleaning applications where both efficacy and tolerability are important, SLES is the preferred choice over SLS.
Q3: Can SLES 70% be used directly on skin or in finished products without dilution?
No. SLES 70% is a concentrated raw material for use in formulation. It must be diluted and incorporated into a complete formula at the appropriate active matter level — typically 5% to 20% in a finished product — with pH adjusted to the target range for the intended application. Using undiluted SLES would cause significant irritation to skin, mucous membranes, or animal coats.
Q4: How does SLES compare to Coco Glucoside?
SLES is an anionic surfactant with significantly higher foaming power and stronger soil removal, making it the preferred primary surfactant in conventional shampoos, body washes, cleaning products, and industrial degreasers. Coco Glucoside is a non-ionic, sulfate-free surfactant with a considerably milder profile, better suited for natural-certified formulations, baby care, pharmaceutical topicals, and sensitive-skin or sensitive-animal products. Many formulators blend both to balance cleaning performance with mildness across personal care, pet care, and cleaning applications.
Q5: Is SLES used in pharmaceutical products?
Yes. SLES is used in the pharmaceutical industry as an emulsifier and mild surfactant in topical formulations such as creams and ointments. It is also used in medicated shampoos, oral care products including toothpaste, and for cleaning pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and laboratory surfaces. Formulators should use pharmaceutical-grade SLES and verify compliance with applicable regulatory standards for their specific application.
Q6: Where can I buy SLES 70% in bulk in Canada?
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate 70% is available for bulk purchase from EZ Elements, with supply options for manufacturers across personal care, pet care, pharmaceutical, cleaning, and industrial sectors in Canada and North America. Contact our team for pricing, documentation, or a product sample.
Related Ingredients
The following EZ Elements ingredients are commonly used alongside SLES 70% across its application industries:
- Coco Glucoside Low Viscosity — Mild, sulfate-free non-ionic co-surfactant used to improve mildness and add natural-origin credentials to SLES-based formulations across personal care, pet care, and cleaning applications.
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate 70% (ALS) — Alternative high-foaming anionic surfactant with a slightly milder profile; suitable for personal care and pet care cleansing systems.
- Aloe Vera Juice — Natural soothing and conditioning botanical that complements SLES-based shampoos and topical pharmaceutical preparations, helping offset any drying effect on skin and coat.
Order or Enquire
Looking to buy Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES 70%) in bulk? Contact EZ Elements for current pricing, full product documentation, and supply options. We serve personal care brands, pet care manufacturers, pharmaceutical formulators, household cleaning product developers, and industrial producers across Canada and North America. Reach out today to request a sample, Technical Data Sheet, or a bulk pricing quote.
