Database/Cleansing/Soyamidopropyl Betaine
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Soyamidopropyl Betaine natural?

Mostly. Fatty acyl from soybean oil is natural; the amidopropyl-dimethyl-betaine head derives from petrochemical DMAPA and chloroacetate.

INCI nameSoyamidopropyl Betaine
FunctionCleansing · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockMade by amidating soybean oil fatty acids with…

How we scored it

Soy acyl (~C18 linoleic-rich, ~264 Da, natural) vs DMAPA+chloroacetate betaine head (~159 Da, petrochemical) / ~423 Da total ≈ 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.

Where it comes from

Made by amidating soybean oil fatty acids with dimethylaminopropylamine, then quaternising with sodium chloroacetate to form the betaine. The fatty portion is plant-derived; the amine and carboxymethyl head is synthetic.

In plain English

A cleansing and foam-boosting ingredient made by joining a soybean oil fatty acid to a small synthetic amine building block. Used as a co-surfactant in shampoos and body washes alongside other cleansing agents.

CosIng definition: 1-Propanaminium, 3-amino-N-carboxymethyl-N,N-dimethyl-, N-soybean-acyl derivs., hydroxides, inner salts

Natural alternatives with the same function

Achillea Millefolium Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from yarrow, a traditional herb, used to refresh and condition skin and help control oiliness. It's…

 Achillea Millefolium Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, used for its scent and soothing, cleansing properties. It comes directly…

 Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide 100% natural origin

A short chain of glucose sugar units made by fermenting sucrose with a bacterial enzyme. Used to cleanse,…

 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of fatty acids from babassu palm seed oil, used to cleanse and help stabilise the texture…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

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. 2SOYAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3SOYAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SOYAMIDOPROPYL%20BETAINE