Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate: Comedogenic Rating & Ingredient Analysis
Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, often abbreviated AOS, is a strong anionic surfactant used to clean and generate abundant foam in body washes, shampoos, cleansing bars and some face cleansers. It is a robust, cost-effective alternative to sulfates like SLS, valued for producing a stable, high-volume lather even in hard water. Like other powerful detergents, it cleans very effectively, and the trade-off is that it can be somewhat drying or stripping for delicate skin, which is why it is usually balanced with milder co-surfactants in a well-designed formula.
Quick facts
- Comedogenic rating
- our estimate — not measured
- Irritation risk
- Moderate
- Effective pH
- —
- Typical strength
- 3–15% (in cleansers)
- Pregnancy
- Considered safe
- Suits skin types
- oilycombinationnormal
Where this number comes from
No one has published a comedogenic rating for this ingredient. Fulton's 1989 table tested about 250 raw materials and this was not among them, and we found no later study measuring it. The figure shown is our own reasoning from the ingredient's chemistry and how it is used — treat it as an estimate, not a measurement.
Fulton read his own scale as 0-1 not significant, 2-3 borderline, 4-5 positive. The assay is the rabbit ear at 10% dilution, which the paper itself calls extremely sensitive and not fully predictive of human skin. Ratings describe the raw ingredient; concentration and formulation change real-world behaviour.
Caution profile
The four published fields on this page, on one 0–5 scale. Further from the centre means more care is needed — never that the ingredient is worse.
Derived, not measured: pore-clogging is the published comedogenic rating; irritation maps low/moderate/high to 1/3/5; pregnancy maps safe/caution/avoid to 0/3/5; skin-type limits is how many of the seven skin types this entry does NOT list. Every input is printed in words in the quick-facts card above.
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 | Published field |
|---|---|---|
| Pore-clogging | 0 | 0/5 |
| Irritation | 3 | Moderate |
| Skin-type limits | 2.9 | 3/7 |
| Pregnancy | 0 | Considered safe |
Working pH and typical strength
Where this ingredient is formulated to sit, and at what concentration.
Both bars come from the fields above: the pH window and the typical strength range published for this ingredient. The tinted column is healthy skin's surface pH (about 4.7–5.75).
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 |
|---|---|
| Typical strength | 3–15% (in cleansers) |
What is it?
Olefin sulfonate is made by sulfonating olefins, hydrocarbons in the C14-16 range, to create an anionic surfactant that dissolves oils and produces plentiful foam. Its structure gives it good detergency and foam stability, and it tolerates hard water better than some other surfactants, which is part of why it appears in body washes and bar cleansers. It is not a mild sugar surfactant; its cleansing strength is closer to the sulfate category, so formulators frequently pair it with cocamidopropyl-betaine or sugar surfactants such as coco-glucoside to reduce its stripping potential. It has a comedogenic rating of zero and is used in rinse-off products.
Benefits
Strong, effective cleansing
AOS removes oil, sweat and buildup thoroughly, giving the deep-clean feel expected from body washes and cleansing bars.
Abundant, stable foam
It generates a high-volume, long-lasting lather that spreads easily, which is a large part of its appeal in mass-market washes.
Performs in hard water
It maintains good foam and cleansing in hard water where some surfactants falter, making it reliable across different water conditions.
Cost-effective sulfate alternative
It offers sulfate-like performance at low cost, giving formulators an economical option for high-foaming cleansing products.
How to use
Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate is a rinse-off cleansing ingredient — use products containing it as directed and rinse well. It suits oily and normal skin comfortably, especially when buffered with milder co-surfactants like cocamidopropyl-betaine or coco-glucoside and humectants such as glycerin. If your skin feels tight or dry after washing, choose a gentler glucoside- or isethionate-based cleanser instead. As with any strong surfactant, moisturise afterward and avoid over-cleansing.
Side effects
At the levels used in rinse-off products, olefin sulfonate is generally tolerated, but as a strong detergent it can be drying or mildly irritating for sensitive, dry or eczema-prone skin, particularly with frequent use. The tight, stripped feeling after washing is a sign it may be too harsh for your skin. It is not associated with the toxicity myths attached to sulfates; the practical concern is potential dryness rather than any systemic risk.
Who should avoid it
People with dry, sensitive, eczema-prone or barrier-compromised skin may find AOS cleansers too stripping and are better served by milder sugar-based surfactants such as coco-glucoside or gentle isethionates like sodium-cocoyl-isethionate. Those with oily, resilient skin generally tolerate it well in balanced rinse-off formulas.
Pairs well with
Frequently asked questions
Is sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate harsh?
It is a strong surfactant, similar in cleansing power to sulfates, so it can be drying for sensitive or dry skin. In balanced formulas with milder co-surfactants it is comfortable for oily and normal skin.
Is olefin sulfonate a sulfate?
It is a sulfonate, not a sulfate, though its cleansing and foaming strength is comparable to sulfates like SLS. It is often used as a cost-effective alternative to sulfate surfactants.
Does olefin sulfonate cause acne?
It has a comedogenic rating of zero and is used in rinse-off products, so it does not directly cause acne. Over-stripping the skin can disrupt the barrier, which may indirectly aggravate breakouts.
Should sensitive skin avoid it?
If your skin is dry, sensitive or eczema-prone, a gentler sugar-based or isethionate cleanser is usually a better fit. Oily, resilient skin generally tolerates olefin sulfonate in well-formulated washes.
Sources & further reading
Medical disclaimer
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