Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB)

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a mild amphoteric surfactant widely used in cleansers, shampoos, body washes, baby products, and micellar waters. It enhances foam, improves mildness, and helps thicken surfactant systems.

INCI Name

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Appearance

Clear to pale yellow liquid
Slightly viscous
30% active surfactant matter

Key Functions

1. Mild Surfactant
   Provides gentle cleansing suitable for sensitive skin.

2. Foam Booster
   Generates rich, stable, creamy lather when combined with anionic surfactants such as SLS, SLES, or SCI.

3. Viscosity Builder
   Helps thicken surfactant systems, especially with the addition of salt.

4. Irritation Reducer
   Reduces the harshness of stronger surfactants.

Recommended Usage Rates

Shampoo: 5–20%
Body wash: 5–15%
Facial cleansers: 3–10%
Baby wash / sensitive skin: 2–5%
Hand wash: 5–10%
Micellar water: 0.5–2%

How to Formulate

Water Phase
Add to the water phase, either before or after heating.
Stable across a wide pH range (5–7.5).

Thickening
Combine with anionic surfactants such as SLES, AOS, SCI slurry, or sodium lauroyl sarcosinate.
Add sodium chloride gradually to increase viscosity.

pH
Ideal pH for finished products: 5.0–6.0
At pH below 4.5, it becomes more cationic and can cause instability.