Long Chain Amphoterics: Safe, Effective Additives for Cleansing Formulations

Amphoteric surfactants are well known for their use in personal care cleaning formulations. They provide several useful benefits, including enhancing the foam structure of primary anionic surfactants, modifying their salt response to generate viscosity, and reducing their irritation. Most amphoteric surfactants available in the personal care market are constructed primarily around mid-chain fatty acids (C12-14) and their formula impacts are well characterized. Less well characterized are the impacts of long chain (C16+) amphoterics. This presentation seeks to remedy that with a robust data set, allowing formulators to deploy these products beneficially.