Sodium Coco-Sulfate
SCS · Coconut-derived sulfate
What it is
A sulfate ester surfactant derived from coconut oil. A mixture of fatty acid chain lengths (C8–C18); chemically, it is a sulfate compound comparable in class to SLS and SLES.
In this product: Primary anionic surfactant; cleansing and lather.
Dose & route, what actually matters
Dermal contact, rinse-off.
EUROPEAN UNION
Not individually restricted in EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex II or III. EWG categorizes it under the 'Sulfate' class with a score of 1 (low concern).
UNITED STATES
Permitted. No FDA restriction. 'Sulfate Free' is an unregulated marketing claim in the US, no legal definition prohibits using it alongside Sodium Coco-Sulfate.
The evidence
EWG Skin Deep categorizes Sodium Coco-Sulfate under the 'Sulfate' ingredient category and rates it 1 (low concern). It is a sulfate ester by chemistry and INCI naming convention.
regulatory · 2026 · source
Native Coconut & Vanilla Body Wash (Target TCIN A-80166009) lists Sodium Coco-Sulfate as the second INCI ingredient while displaying a 'Sulfate Free' front-label claim, a direct contradiction confirmed by the verbatim INCI list.
regulatory · 2026 · source
California Prop 65: Not listed.
How to avoid it
The chemistry is low concern. The labeling is the issue, if the sulfate-free claim matters to you, look for formulas using sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, or glucoside-based surfactants.
Where it hides
Editorial analysis of publicly available regulatory and peer-reviewed sources. Not medical advice. We name our evidence and link it, including when an ingredient is fine.