COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is an amphoteric surfactant and foam booster used in cleansers, shampoos, body washes, and hand washes. It helps improve mildness and viscosity when paired with anionic surfactants.
What does COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is an amphoteric surfactant and foam booster used in cleansers, shampoos, body washes, and hand washes. It helps improve mildness and viscosity when paired with anionic surfactants.
Is COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN clean?
Clean-beauty standards generally allow it, but it carries some scrutiny because residual amines and amidoamine byproducts can be sensitizing for some users. Well-purified grades are considered broadly well tolerated in rinse-off formulas.
Is COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN sustainable?
This material is typically made from coconut or palm-kernel fatty acids combined with synthetic inputs. It is readily biodegradable, but palm-linked sourcing makes traceability and certification relevant.
Is COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural when it meets the standard’s surfactant, biodegradability, and manufacturing requirements, but it is not a simple minimally processed natural material. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with renewable fatty feedstock and biodegradability balanced against multi-step synthetic processing and petrochemical-derived inputs.
How does COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN work chemically?
The molecule is a zwitterionic amphoteric surfactant with a fatty amide tail and a betaine-type charged head group, which helps it remain compatible with anionic, nonionic, and cationic systems. Typical use is about 2 to 10% as supplied in rinse-off products, with good performance across mildly acidic to neutral pH and frequent use to reduce the harsh feel of primary cleansing systems.
Last updated 2026-05-15