News

Industry Background

The global personal care product market continues to upgrade towards "natural, mild, safe, and sustainable" products. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the irritation and sensitization potential of products such as shampoos, shower gels, and face creams, placing higher demands on the safety and mildness of formulation ingredients. The European market is tightening its bans on CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxicants); the North American market's embrace of the "Clean Beauty" concept is driving brands to accelerate the screening of safer raw materials; and the implementation of the "Cosmetic Supervision and Management Regulations" and related regulations in the Chinese market has also imposed stricter requirements on the safety assessment of cosmetic raw materials.

Traditional sulfate surfactant systems (SLS/SLES), while possessing excellent cleansing and foaming power, have excessively strong degreasing power. Long-term use can damage the skin barrier function, leading to dry and sensitive skin. How to build a milder and safer formulation system without sacrificing cleansing power and user experience is a core challenge facing cosmetic formulators.

Core Technology Principles

The mildness of a surfactant is closely related to its molecular structure, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and skin compatibility. The design principles for mild surfactants mainly include:

Reducing Irritation: Selecting surfactants with larger molecular weights and higher CMCs reduces their binding ability to skin stratum corneum proteins. Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) is an amphoteric surfactant with both positive and negative charges in its molecule, exhibiting weaker binding to skin proteins and significantly lower irritation than anionic surfactants.

Synergistic Combination: Combining different types of surfactants can produce a synergistic effect, reducing overall irritation while maintaining cleansing power. Studies have shown that when sodium cocoyl glutamate and cocamidopropyl betaine are combined in a 3:1 to 1:3 ratio, both mildness and cleansing power achieve an ideal balance. The addition of alkyl glycosides (APG) can further improve the mildness of the system.

Natural Source: APG is a nonionic surfactant synthesized from natural fatty alcohols and glucose. The raw materials are renewable, biodegradable, and have extremely low irritation to the skin and eyes.

Core Product Portfolio

Product Category | Recommended Product | INCI Name | Function in Formulation | Recommended Dosage

Mature Main Surfactant | Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAB) | Amphoteric surfactant, reduces the irritation of main surfactants such as AES, provides fine foam | 5%-15%

Green Main Surfactant | Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG 1214) | Nonionic surfactant, 100% biodegradable, extremely low irritation | 5%-20%

Basic Moisturizer | Glycerin (Glycerol) | Core moisturizing ingredient, enhances skin hydration capacity | 2%-10%

Refreshing Emollient | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (GTCC) | Light oil, quickly absorbed, non-sticky | 1%-10%

Thickening and Foam Stabilizer | Cocamide DEA (6501) | Thickens and stabilizes foam, improves product texture and foam fineness 1%-5%

pH Adjustment/Preservative: Citric Acid/Phenoxyethanol. Adjusts the pH of the system and works synergistically with the preservative system. Appropriate amount.

Skin Texture Adjusting Powder: Talc/Mica (Cosmetic Grade). Improves the smoothness and shine of foundation and loose powder. 5%-30%

Application-Specific Formula

Baby Shampoo & Body Wash (Tear-Free Formula)

Target: Extremely low irritation, gentle cleansing, fine foam.

Recommended main surfactant: Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAB) 10% + Alkyl Glucoside (APG 1214) 5%

Auxiliary Ingredients: Glycerin 2%, Citric Acid (pH adjusted to 5.5-6.0)

Features: The combination of CAB and APG results in extremely low irritation, meeting the requirements of a "tear-free formula," with fine and gentle foam.

Sensitive Skin Cleansing Mousse

Target: Low irritation, moderate cleansing, no tightness after washing.

Recommended main surfactant: Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAB) 8% + Alkyl Glucoside (APG 1214) 8%

Auxiliary Ingredients: Glycerin 3%, GTCC 1%

Features: Dual gentle surfactant system of CAB and APG, sulfate-free, suitable for sensitive skin

Amino Acid Cleansing Cream (High-end Positioning)

Target: Gentle cleansing, rich foam, pleasant skin feel

Recommended Main Surfactant: Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate (Amino Acid Surfactant) + Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAB) Combination

Combination Ratio: Amino Acid Surfactant: CAB = 3:1 to 1:3

Auxiliary Ingredients: Glycerin 5%, GTCC 2%

Features: Amino acid surfactant combined with CAB, balanced gentleness and cleansing power, suitable for mid-to-high-end cleansing products

Moisturizing Cream (Refreshing Type)

Target: Hydration, refreshing skin feel, rapid absorption

Recommended Core Ingredient: Glycerin (Moisturizing) 3%-5% + GTCC (Moisturizing) 3%-8%

Auxiliary Ingredient: CAB (Emulsifying Stabilizer) 0.5%-1%

Features: Glycerin provides basic moisturizing, while GTCC provides a refreshing, non-sticky feel. Together, they achieve a "moisturizing without being oily" effect.

Foundation/Loose Powder (Silky Texture)

Target: Good spreadability, silky feel, moderate coverage

Recommended Core Ingredients: Cosmetic-grade Talc 20%-40% + Mica Powder 5%-15%

Features: Talc provides a silky feel and oil-absorbing effect, while mica powder provides shine and pearlescent effect.

Advantages of the Solution

Formula Synergistic Design: Compatibility between products has been verified, avoiding the trial-and-error costs of customer self-testing.

Priority to Natural Sources: APG, GTCC, glycerin, and other products are derived from natural renewable resources, aligning with the trend of green cosmetics.

Safety Guarantee: All products provide COA and third-party testing reports. Heavy metals, microorganisms, and other indicators strictly comply with cosmetic safety standards (EU EC). (1223/2009, US FDA requirements, China's "Cosmetic Safety Technical Specifications") Multiple Grades Available: Offers cosmetic-grade and pharmaceutical-grade raw materials to meet the positioning needs of products at different price points. Technical Support: Provides value-added services such as formulation advice and stability testing method guidance. Applicable Scenarios:

Infant and toddler personal care products (shampoo, body wash, lotion)

Sensitive skin cleansers and skincare products

High-end amino acid cleansing creams and cleansing mousses

Refreshing moisturizing creams and lotions

Foundation, loose powder, and other makeup products