A zinc salt of coconut alkyl sulfates, used as a surfactant and regulated in Annex III.
What it is
Zinc coco-sulfate is the zinc salt of sulfuric acid monoesters of coconut fatty alcohols, an anionic surfactant. CosIng lists it as a cleansing agent and an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant. In the EU it is covered by an entry in Annex III (substances subject to restrictions).
Where it is used
Found in shampoos and other cleansing products.
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.
See the EU regulation section for the applicable limits, which depend on the product type, including toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Functions
- Cleansing
- Helping to keep the body surface clean.
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- 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).
EU regulation
EU · Annex III, entry 24Water-soluble zinc salts with the exception of zinc 4- hydroxy-benzene sulphonate (entry 25 of Annex III)
- Product type
- (a) Toothpaste intended for users above 1 year of age (b) Toothpaste intended for children between 6 months and 1 year of age (c) Mouthwash intended for users above 6 years of age (d) Other products
- Maximum concentration
- (a) 1 % (as zinc) (b) 0,72 % (as zinc) (c) 0,1 % (as zinc) (d) 1 % (as zinc)
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EU) 2026/909