Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
AKA “Polynaphthalenesulfonate, Dispersant”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Sodium polynaphthalenesulfonate
AKA: Dispersant
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 3
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Medicated Active
Not Clean
Naphthalenesulfonic acid, polymer with formaldehyde, sodium salt
CAS #
9084-06-4
See origin →
Functions
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Gel Forming
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Hydrotrope
Stabilizes Emulsion
Cleansing Surfactant
Surfactant Hydrotrope
Traditional Use
A synthetic polymer created through modern chemical synthesis. Used in cosmetics as a dispersant and suspending agent to improve product consistency.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Sodium Naphthalenesulfonate and Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate.
Burnett C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2023
Final Report on the Amended Safety Assessment of Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate and Sodium Naphthalenesulfonate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate and Sodium Naphthalenesulfonate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Sodium Naphthalenesulfonate and Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Final report on the amended safety assessment of sodium polynaphthalenesulfonate and sodium naphthalenesulfonate.
Cosmetic Ingredients Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Size- and Concentration-Dependent Adsorption of Polydisperse Dispersant Oligomers to TiO(2) Nanoparticles and the Effect of Adding Poor Solvents.
Fukuhara R, Nasu A, Inasawa S
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 2025
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR