Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide: What Is It, Cosmetic Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining exactly what it is and why it's used within cosmetic formulations.
Updated on: June 30, 2025
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We verify all information on this page using publicly available nomenclature standards from The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), the European Commission's CosIng database and documentation provided directly by ingredient manufacturers. Our analysis is based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide?

Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide is a water-soluble salt made by linking chitosan, a natural polymer taken from the shells of shrimp and other crustaceans, with lauric acid and then adding carboxymethyl groups that are neutralized with sodium. This tweak turns the normally tough and flaky chitosan into a soft, flexible ingredient that mixes easily with water and oils.

Researchers started exploring chitosan derivatives for beauty products in the late 1990s when they noticed the material’s film-forming and moisture-binding talent. By attaching lauric acid, formulators gave the molecule a gentle cleansing touch, while the carboxymethyl step improved solubility and skin feel. The result is a multi-tasking additive that began showing up in shampoos and facial cleansers in the early 2000s and has grown more popular as brands look for naturally sourced alternatives to synthetic polymers.

Manufacturing involves three steps: purified chitosan is first reacted with lauric acid anhydride, then the partially modified polymer is treated with chloroacetic acid to add carboxymethyl groups, and finally the mixture is neutralized with sodium hydroxide to create the sodium salt. The finished powder disperses quickly in water and is stable across a wide pH range.

You will most often spot Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide in daily shampoos, conditioners, leave-in hair masks, sulfate-free body washes, foaming facial cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, sheet masks and anti-aging serums where it boosts texture and mildness.

Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses

This versatile ingredient offers several useful actions in a single package

  • Hair conditioning: deposits a thin, hydrating film along the hair shaft that smooths cuticles, reduces static and improves comb-through for softer, shinier strands
  • Skin conditioning: binds moisture to the skin surface creating a breathable protective layer that leaves skin feeling smooth and supple
  • Cleansing: the lauramide portion adds mild surfactant properties that help lift away dirt and oil without stripping natural lipids making formulas gentler than traditional sulfates
  • Emulsifying: stabilizes blends of oil and water so creams and cleansers stay uniform and pleasant to use while also enhancing viscosity for a richer texture

Who Can Use Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide

This ingredient plays nicely with most skin types, including oily, combination, dry and mature skin thanks to its balanced mix of water-binding and gentle cleansing properties. Sensitive skin usually tolerates it well because it is low on irritation potential, though anyone with a known shellfish allergy should steer clear since the raw material comes from crustacean shells.

Because Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide is sourced from shrimp and other shellfish it is not considered vegan or vegetarian. Brands occasionally market a fungal-derived chitosan alternative, but unless the label states that explicitly plant-based shoppers should assume the standard version is animal-derived.

Current safety data show no red flags for topical use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Still this is not medical advice and anyone who is pregnant or nursing should review any skincare product with a qualified healthcare professional before adding it to a routine.

The molecule does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight so it is not regarded as a photosensitizer. As with any film-forming polymer very heavy use in leave-on products could feel occlusive on extremely oily skin, but this is more of a texture preference than a safety issue.

Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

Responses to topical Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide differ from person to person. The effects listed below are potential outcomes only and most users will not notice any problems when the ingredient is used at normal cosmetic levels.

  • Mild redness or stinging in people with very reactive or damaged skin barriers
  • Allergic contact dermatitis in individuals with shellfish or chitosan sensitivities
  • Eye irritation if a high-foaming formula accidentally gets into the eyes
  • Build-up on hair leading to a weighed-down feel when highly concentrated leave-in products are used without occasional clarifying

If any discomfort or unusual reaction occurs discontinue use and seek advice from a healthcare professional or pharmacist.

Comedogenic Rating

Rating: 1/5. Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide is a large, water-soluble polymer that forms a light breathable film rather than sinking into pores. It does not contain heavy oils or waxes that typically clog follicles, and its mild cleansing action can actually help lift surface debris. Because it rinses away easily most formulators and dermatology texts consider it very low risk for pore blockage.

Suitable for acne-prone skin in most rinse-off and leave-on formats.

As with any film-forming ingredient, overuse in thick leave-on layers could feel occlusive to very oily skin types, but this is a texture concern rather than a true comedogenic trigger.

Summary

Sodium Carboxymethyl Chitosan Lauramide conditions hair, hydrates skin, gently cleanses and stabilizes oil-water mixtures. It does this by binding moisture, depositing a smooth polymer film, providing mild surfactant activity from the lauramide side chain and thickening formulas so they stay uniform.

The ingredient enjoys steady though not blockbuster popularity, appearing most often in sulfate-free shampoos, lightweight conditioners and gentle facial cleansers that target consumers seeking nature-derived alternatives to synthetic polymers.

Current research and decades of cosmetic use indicate a solid safety profile with low irritation and minimal comedogenicity. Still it is wise to patch test any new product to ensure personal compatibility.

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