Database/Antistatic/Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine natural?

Mostly. Coconut acid and the sulfonate group are natural; the DMAPA-derived linker and hydroxypropylene tail are petrochemical.

INCI nameCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CAS68139-30-0
FunctionAntistatic · Cleansing
FeedstockAmphoteric surfactant made from coconut fatty acid and…

How we scored it

Lauroyl 183.3 Da + SO3 80.1 Da = 263.4 Da (natural) vs DMAPA-propyl-N(CH3)2 plus hydroxypropylene tail carbons ~159.3 Da (petrochemical). 263.4/422.6=0.62.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Chlorohydroxypropanesulfonate closes to an epoxide; the amidoamine opens it (SN2). Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Amphoteric surfactant made from coconut fatty acid and dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA), further reacted with a sultone-type reagent to add the sulfonate group. The sulfonate itself counts as mineral-natural even though its carbon backbone is petrochemical.

In plain English

A mild, amphoteric surfactant made from coconut fatty acid joined to a synthetic amine linker and a sulfonate group. It boosts foam and gentleness in cleansers and shampoos.

CosIng definition: 1-Propanaminium, N-(3-aminopropyl)-2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-sulfo-, N-coco acyl derivs., hydroxides, inner salts

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of lemon aspen, an Australian native fruit, used to condition skin and hair and help hold…

 Alanine 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin and hair conditioning, part of skin's natural moisturising factor. Made by fermenting…

 Arginine 100% natural origin

An amino acid found in skin and hair proteins, used for conditioning and moisture-binding. Made by fermenting plant…

 Asparagine 100% natural origin

An amino acid made by fermenting plant sugars, similar to other food-fermentation processes. Helps condition hair and skin…

 Aspartic Acid 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin conditioning and moisture retention. Usually produced by fermentation or by an enzyme…

 Capryloyl Hydrolyzed Collagen 100% natural origin

Collagen broken into small protein fragments and attached to caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid from coconut or…

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=COCAMIDOPROPYL%20HYDROXYSULTAINE