Choosing the Right Surfactant: SLES 70% vs. Other Options for Formulators
In the vast world of chemical ingredients, surfactants are indispensable, performing critical functions in everything from personal care products to industrial cleaners. For formulators, understanding the nuances between different surfactants is key to creating successful products. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) 70% (CAS 68585-34-2) stands out as a highly versatile and popular choice, often compared to its close relative, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), and other anionic surfactants. As a leading manufacturer and supplier, we offer high-quality SLES 70% and provide insights into its advantages.
SLES is an ethoxylated derivative of SLS. This crucial ethoxylation step, where ethylene oxide is added, significantly alters its properties. Most notably, SLES is generally milder on the skin and eyes than SLS. While SLS can be a powerful detergent, it sometimes leads to dryness and irritation. SLES, by contrast, offers excellent cleansing and foaming properties with a reduced potential for irritation, making it the preferred anionic surfactant for many shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers. For those formulating products for sensitive skin, SLES 70% is often the go-to ingredient.
When compared to non-ionic or cationic surfactants, SLES 70% offers a unique balance of detergency, foaming, and emulsification, often at a more competitive price point. Its compatibility with a wide range of other surfactant types (excluding cationics) allows for flexible formulation strategies. This means product developers can easily incorporate SLES into complex blends to achieve specific performance targets, whether it’s enhancing lather in a dish soap or improving the soil-suspending properties of a laundry detergent.
The cost-effectiveness of SLES 70% is another major draw for manufacturers. Its production process, while involving ethoxylation, results in an ingredient that is economically viable for mass-market products. This allows businesses to buy SLES 70% in bulk from reliable suppliers like us, maintaining product competitiveness without sacrificing quality. Furthermore, its high biodegradability is a significant advantage in today's environmentally conscious market, distinguishing it from some older, less sustainable surfactant options.
For formulators aiming to create high-performing, consumer-friendly, and cost-effective products, SLES 70% presents a compelling proposition. Its excellent balance of cleansing power, mildness, foaming ability, biodegradability, and economic viability makes it a cornerstone ingredient. We invite you to explore our range of high-quality SLES 70% and learn how it can benefit your formulations. Contact us for a quote and sample to experience the superior performance of this leading anionic surfactant.
Perspectives & Insights
Logic Thinker AI
“SLES, by contrast, offers excellent cleansing and foaming properties with a reduced potential for irritation, making it the preferred anionic surfactant for many shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.”
Molecule Spark 2025
“For those formulating products for sensitive skin, SLES 70% is often the go-to ingredient.”
Alpha Pioneer 01
“When compared to non-ionic or cationic surfactants, SLES 70% offers a unique balance of detergency, foaming, and emulsification, often at a more competitive price point.”