Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Sulfate-Free Surfactant)

Description

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a mild, sulfate-free, coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant that provides gentle cleansing action while reducing the harshness of primary surfactants, making it ideal for creating gentler, more skin-friendly personal care formulations.

Why formulators love this ingredient: it leave hair and skin feeling less-stripped and less-irritated, compared to formulations using only harsh primary surfactants. Its mildness on the skin make some users say that it leaves a “conditioning feel”. That actually comes from the absence of harshness rather than actual conditioning.

INCI Name: Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Other Names: CAPB (short for Cocamidopropyl Betaine), Coco Betaine

Ingredient Type: Secondary Surfactant, cleansing agent, detergent, foaming agent, foaming ingredient, foam booster, foam stabilizer.

Function: Amphoteric Surfactant, Co-Surfactant/ secondary surfactant

Active Surfactant Matter (ASM): 30% to 32% active content

Derived From: Coconut oil

Appearance: Thin Liquid; Clear yellow to golden colour

Smell: Faint to no odour

Texture: Soap-like slippery feel

Smell: Soapy/ detergent smell

Solubility: Water-soluble

Usage Rate: 4% to 40%

Storage: Store in a tightly sealed container, away from heat and cold

Shelf Life: 1-and-half years (18 months).

Applications: Cocamidopropyl Betaine is commonly used in the formulation of  personal care products including shampoos, facial cleansers, liquid soaps, body washes, hand washes, baby products and more.

Formulation Notes/ Guide:

• Ingredient Charge: Amphoteric
• Ingredient pH: 4.5-8
• Formulation pH: 5.5 to 7.5
• Charge: Amphoteric surfactant (pH of amphoteric surfactants change into the pH of the solution they are in);
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine doesn’t lather well when used alone/ on its own. Therefore, it’s commonly used in combination with other surfactants
• Is used as a secondary/ co-surfactant during formulation of cleansing products. It supports other surfactants to help make the entire surfactant blend milder, stabilize the lathering and improve flash foam
• It is used to support other surfactants – helps improve lathering and thickness of the formulation/ final product
• Helps thicken some surfactant blends due to its Sodium Chloride content

 

Common Uses of Cocamidopropyl Betaine (in Formulation)

Here are examples of types of products that you’ll find Cocamidopropyl Betaine on their ingredient labels:

• Shampoos and conditioners
• Baby soaps
• Hand washes
• Bath washes, bath gels
• Face Cleansers

 

Properties

• Very mild secondary/ co-surfactant
• Has good cleansing and foaming properties, and so is also useful as primary surfactant
• Has moderate emulsifying properties
• Gentle on skin, leaving a conditioning-like after-feel (due to its ability to cleanse gently without stripping skin of its natural oils and moisture);
• Compatible with other surfactants including anionic, non-ionic, cationic surfactants
• Mild Viscosity Enhancer: Cocamidopropyl Betaine slightly enhances the viscosity of the formulation

 

Benefits of Cocamidopropyl Betaine

• Reduces Harshness: It’s amphoteric, meaning that it can help buffer and reduce the irritation caused by primary anionic surfactants sucha as SLS
• Maintains Mildness: It’s much gentler than primary cleansers, so it doesn’t strip away natural oils as aggressively.
• Provides Foam Stability: It creates a stable, creamy lather that feels pleasant.
• Acts as a Secondary Surfactant: It supports the cleaning action without being as harsh as primary surfactants.

 

Cocamidopropyl Betaine vs Coco Betaine

Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB) is not the same thing as Coco Betaine. They are completely different ingredients, although some people refer to Cocamidopropyl Betaine as Coco Betaine. They just have similar names. According to experts at ChemistsCorner, ‘Coco Betaine’ is Cocamidopropyl Betaine’ minus the “-amidopropyl” part of the molecule.