Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Worst Cleansing Agent No known benefits Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate description Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate is used primarily as a detergent cleansing agent, but is potentially drying and can aggravate skin. Can be derived from coconut. It’s tricky to include in formulas due to stability issues, but it does produce copious foam.