Xylene Sulfonic Acid
AKA “RefChem:904510, SCHEMBL541997, SCHEMBL9404187, GDJZZWYLFXAGFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N”
Acid
Ingredient Facts
Xylene sulfonic acid
AKA: RefChem:904510, SCHEMBL541997, SCHEMBL9404187, GDJZZWYLFXAGFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Acid · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Cleanser
Acid
Not Clean
Xylene Sulfonic Acid is safe as cosmetic ingredient in the present practice of use and concentration as described in this safety assessment, when formulated to be nonirritating
Formula
C8H12O3S
Mol. Weight
188.25
CAS #
25321-41-9
Form
Liquid
State
Solid
See origin →
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Hydrotrope
Cleansing Surfactant
Surfactant Hydrotrope
Lifts away dirt and oil
Improves ingredient solubility
Traditional Use
Synthetic ingredient developed in the 20th century for industrial chemical applications. Adopted in cosmetics as a chelating agent and pH adjuster in modern formulations with no significant historical use.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Safety assessment of xylene sulfonic acid, toluene sulfonic acid, and alkyl aryl sulfonate hydrotropes as used in cosmetics.
Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Hill R, Liebler D et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2011
Safety assessment of xylene sulfonic acid, toluene sulfonic acid, and alkyl aryl sulfonate hydrotropes as used in cosmetics.
Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Hill R, Liebler D et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2011
Safety Assessment of Xylene Sulfonic Acid, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, and Alkyl Aryl Sulfonate Hydrotropes as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Xylene Sulfonic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR