A sugar-based non-ionic surfactant made from coconut fatty acids, used as a cleansing agent and thickener.
What it is
Cocoyl methyl glucamide is the product of reacting methylglucamine, an amino sugar alcohol derived from glucose, with coconut fatty acid chloride. CosIng lists it as a hair-conditioning, skin-conditioning, solvent and viscosity-controlling ingredient and a cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in shampoos, shower gels and facial cleansers.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show the exact fatty acid distribution.
Functions
- Hair conditioning
- Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Solvent
- Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.