Beauty & Personal Care / Solution Family

Surfactants & Cleansing Agents

Anionic sulfates, sulfate-free glucosides, betaines, taurates, and amine oxides u2014 SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, coco- and decyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate, and more u2014 for foam and cleansing in rinse-off products.

Overview

Surfactants and cleansing agents are the amphiphilic molecules (one end attracts water, the other attracts oil) that let personal-care products foam, wet surfaces, emulsify, and lift away sebum, soil, and product residue. In beauty and personal care they form the functional base of shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, hand washes, and syndet bars, lowering surface tension so water spreads and rinses cleanly. The family covers anionic primary surfactants, amphoteric and zwitterionic co-surfactants, and nonionic alkyl polyglucosides. RawSource sources these chemistries in bulk quantities (drums, totes, and container loads) to specification for formulators and contract manufacturers.

Chemistry choice follows the cleansing role. For primary detergency and rich lather, the sulfate-class anionics dominate: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES, sodium lauryl ether sulfate), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES), and Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS); the ethoxylated (laureth) grades thicken readily with salt and give a fuller foam. Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) is a high-foaming anionic that tolerates hard water. For sulfate-free and syndet systems, formulators select alternative anionics: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (SMCT), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA), the last two common in powder and solid cleansers. Amphoteric co-surfactants boost foam density and build viscosity in anionic bases: Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (CAHS), Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, and Lauramine Oxide (lauryldimethylamine oxide). Coco-Glucoside and Decyl/Undecyl Glucoside are nonionic alkyl polyglucosides (APG) derived from glucose and fatty alcohols, used to build sulfate-free cleansing bases.

These are industrial raw materials for professional formulation use only. Confirm handling, storage, and hazard information against the current SDS for each grade, and verify surfactant compatibility, use levels, and regulatory status (INCI naming and regional cosmetic requirements) for your specific process and jurisdiction before use.

Recommended Chemistries
19 materials
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES, Ammonium Lauryl Ether Sulfate)
CAS 32612-48-9
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)
CAS 2235-54-3
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CAS 61789-40-0
Amphoteric secondary surfactant / foam booster Quick view
Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Cocobetaine, CAPB)
CAS 61789-40-0
Amphoteric secondary surfactant / foam booster Quick view
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (CAHS)
CAS 39660-17-8
Surfactancy Quick view
Coco-Glucoside (Alkyl Polyglucoside, APG)
CAS 141464-42-8
Nonionic glucoside (sulfate-free) Quick view
Decyl/Undecyl Glucoside (Alkyl Polyglucoside, APG)
CAS 58846-77-8
Nonionic glucoside (sulfate-free) Quick view
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CAS 39354-45-5
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Lauramine Oxide (Lauryldimethylamine Oxide)
CAS 1643-20-5
Amine-oxide foam booster / viscosity aid Quick view
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (Alpha Olefin Sulfonate, AOS)
CAS 68439-57-6
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS)
CAS 97375-27-4
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI)
CAS 61789-32-0
Anionic isethionate surfactant (syndet) Quick view
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate)
CAS 68891-38-3
Ethoxylated anionic surfactant Quick view
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
CAS 68891-38-3
Ethoxylated anionic surfactant Quick view
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CAS 156028-14-7
Surfactancy Quick view
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS, Sodium dodecyl sulfate)
CAS 151-21-3
Anionic primary surfactant (high-foam cleanser) Quick view
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA)
CAS 1847-58-1
Cleaning / Degreasing Quick view
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (SMCT)
CAS 12765-39-8
Anionic taurate surfactant Quick view
Sodium PPG-16/PEG-2 Lauryl Ether Sulfate
CAS 68891-38-3
Ethoxylated anionic surfactant Quick view
Where it's used
  • Primary cleansing and foam generation in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers
  • Sulfate-free cleanser bases built on glucosides, isethionate, or taurate
  • Foam boosting and salt-thickening of surfactant systems with betaines and amine oxides
  • Wetting and soil removal in liquid hand and body cleansers
  • Co-surfactant blends formulated to target lather, viscosity, and clarity
Frequently asked questions
What surfactants does RawSource supply for personal care?
RawSource sources anionic surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate), amphoteric surfactants (cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramine oxide), and nonionic glucosides (coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside). All are catalog-tagged to Beauty & Personal Care and used for foam, cleansing, and wetting in rinse-off products.
What is the difference between anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants?
They are classed by charge. Anionic surfactants (sulfates, isethionate, taurate) carry the primary cleaning and foam load. Amphoteric surfactants (betaines, amine oxides) work as co-surfactants that boost foam and modify the system. Nonionic glucosides are sugar-derived and serve as sulfate-free primary or co-surfactants. Most cleansers blend two or more classes.
Why combine more than one surfactant in a cleanser?
A single surfactant rarely delivers foam, cleansing, viscosity, and clarity at once. A typical base pairs a primary anionic surfactant with a betaine or amine oxide co-surfactant, then uses salt or a glucoside to tune lather and thickness. Sulfate-free bases lean on glucosides, isethionate, or taurate as the primary.
Does RawSource supply sulfate-free cosmetic surfactants in bulk?
Yes. RawSource sources sulfate-free surfactants (coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate) and the full anionic/amphoteric range at bulk scale in drums, totes, and bulk configurations, each shipment with SDS, TDS, and COA. Submit a CAS or INCI name with target volume for a quote.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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