Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Coconut Amino Acids, Amino Acid Coconut Surfactant
Allergen Warning
⚠️ Tree Nut (Coconut)
Synthetic
Cleanser
Amino Acid
Plant Oil
Acid
Clean
Acid chlorides, coco, reaction products with protein hydrolyzates
Effective at 13.7%
CAS #
68188-38-5
Functions
Antistatic
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Surfactant Cleansing
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Fights Acne
Removes dirt and impurities
Lifts away dirt and oil
Reduces flyaways
Traditional Use
Developed in the late 20th century by combining coconut oil derivatives with amino acids. Created to produce gentler, more skin-compatible surfactants than traditional soap for modern cleansing products.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.4%
27.0%
0%38%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 11-27 | 0.4-2.8
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR