Rate My SPF

Sarcosine

What Sarcosine is & what it does

Sarcosine, also called N-methylglycine, is a small amino acid derivative that occurs naturally in the body and in some foods. In skincare formulas it serves as a skin conditioning agent and can act as a building block for milder surfactants such as the sarcosinate cleansers. A notable feature is its role as a precursor in making gentle, amino acid based cleansing ingredients.

What does Sarcosine do in skincare?

Sarcosine, an amino acid derivative also called N-methylglycine, is used as a skin conditioning agent in cosmetics. It also serves as a building block for gentle, amino acid based cleansing ingredients known as sarcosinates. In a formula it contributes to conditioning and to milder cleansing chemistry.

Is Sarcosine natural or synthetic?

Sarcosine occurs naturally in the body and in some foods, but the material used in cosmetics is typically produced synthetically for consistency and purity. The synthetic version is chemically identical to the naturally occurring compound. So it can be described as a nature-identical ingredient.

Is Sarcosine safe?

Sarcosine is used as a skin conditioning ingredient in topical cosmetic products. It is a small amino acid derivative that the body also produces naturally. As with any ingredient, individual sensitivity can vary, so patch testing a new product is reasonable.

Sunscreens with Sarcosine

We rate 31 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

← All ingredients