Have you ever seen sodium laurel sulfate on the ingredient label of a shampoo or soap, and wondered what it does? If you have, you’re not alone. This compound is added an essential ingredient in many shampoos, body washes and many other skin care products because of its ability to produce foam and remove oils from skin. Sodium laurel sulfate is usually extracted from the fatty acids in coconut oil or palm oil, and is known as a common surfactant (it’s effective at breaking down oils). However, some skin care companies manufacture this synthetic detergent product through extraction from petrolatum or other sources. What makes sodium laurel sulfate a relatively common ingredient in skin care products is its milder nature when compared to its sister chemicals for producing foam, such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS)