Product Guide · Surfactants
Nine grades built on one chemistry. Navigate them with three questions: what is the product, how hard is the local water, and powder or liquid?
On this page
- Start here: three questions
- Full line comparison
- Reading the families at a glance
- The flagship: YLSCPD, a different kind of answer
- How to choose
- Powder or liquid?
- Application playbooks
- Pairing with the rest of the IngreLink line
- Claims and compliance notes
- Two audiences, two shortlists
- Frequently asked questions
- Continue through the series
Nine grades, all rooted in amino-acid chemistry, all developed for mild cleansing. Spec sheets make them look interchangeable: similar active content, similar pH, similar drum sizes.
They are not interchangeable. Two variables decide everything:
- The amino-acid family — glutamate, glycinate, sarcosinate, taurate or a natural-source specialty. This sets the foam character, the mildness profile and the behaviour in hard water.
- The supply form — powder at 90–95% active, or liquid at 25–30%. This sets your process and your freight economics.
Plus one outlier worth understanding on its own terms: YLSCPD, not a conventional amino-acid surfactant but a biomimetic phospholipid that can replace several ingredients at once.
Start here: three questions
| Question | Where it leads you |
|---|---|
| What is the product? | Facial gel → glycinate or taurate. Creamy paste → glycinate + glutamate. Sulfate-free shampoo → YLSCPD or taurate. Baby → natural-source specialties. |
| How hard is the local water? | Hard water → sarcosinate or taurate. Soft water → any family. |
| Powder or liquid line? | High-volume, cost-driven, own dissolving step → powder. Cold-mix, speed to market → liquid. |
Answer those three and you are usually down to two candidates.
Full line comparison
| Code | INCI (CAS) | Family | Form / active | Hallmark | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ YLSCPD | Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate (83682-78-4) | Phospholipid hybrid | Liquid 50% (200 kg) | Six functions in one: efficient thickening, foam boosting and stabilising, support for the preservation system, mild skin feel, conditioning and anti-static action, formulation simplification | Sulfate-free shampoo, body and hand wash, wipes, dishwashing, laundry and fabric care |
| YLSLG | Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate (29923-31-7) | Glutamate | Powder 90% / Liquid 25% (15 kg / 200 kg) | Widely regarded across the industry as the mildness reference point among amino-acid surfactants | Premium facial cleansers, baby care |
| YLKCG | Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate (301341-58-2) | Glycinate — potassium salt | Powder 95% / Liquid 30% (15 kg / 200 kg) | Short-chain amino acid, highly soluble, gives transparent systems with rich foam | Clear facial cleansing gels, transparent shampoos |
| YLSCG | Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate (90387-74-9) | Glycinate — sodium salt | Powder 95% / Liquid 30% (15 kg / 200 kg) | The universal building block most amino-acid cleansers are constructed on | Creamy amino-acid cleansing pastes, mainstream facial cleansers |
| YLSLSA | Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (137-16-6) | Sarcosinate | Powder 95% / Liquid 30% (15 kg / 200 kg) | Combines hard-water resistance with mild cleansing and a dense foam | Hard-water markets, toothpaste-style foam profiles |
| YLSMCT | Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (12765-39-8) | Taurate — cocoyl | Powder 95% / Liquid 30% (15 kg / 200 kg) | Strong hard-water resistance with consistent detergency and mildness | Shampoo, body wash, home care |
| YLSMLT | Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate (27303-29-7) | Taurate — lauroyl | Powder 95% (12 kg) | Consistent detergency with premium positioning; compact pack suits high-value, low-volume work | Premium facial cleansers and shampoos |
| YLSCA3 | Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids (68188-38-5) | Natural-source specialty | Liquid 25% (200 kg) | Mild cleansing with a soft, conditioning after-feel | Natural-positioned daily cleansers |
| YLSLOA2 | Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids (222400-43-3) | Natural-source specialty | Liquid 25% (200 kg) | Developed specifically for infant and sensitive-skin cleansing | Baby wash, sensitive-skin facial cleansers |
★ = flagship grade
Reading the families at a glance
| Family | Foam | Mildness | Hard water | Typical role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glutamate (YLSLG) | Soft, dense | Very high | Moderate | The mildness anchor |
| Glycinate — K (YLKCG) | Rich, fine | High | Moderate | Transparent systems |
| Glycinate — Na (YLSCG) | Rich, creamy | High | Moderate | The volume backbone |
| Sarcosinate (YLSLSA) | Dense, stable | High | High | Hard-water reliability |
| Taurate (YLSMCT / YLSMLT) | Dense, creamy | Very high | High | Premium cleansing, hair |
| Natural-source (YLSCA3 / YLSLOA2) | Soft, low | Very high | Moderate | Story-led, infant care |
| Phospholipid hybrid (YLSCPD) | Boosted, stabilised | High | High | System simplification |
The flagship: YLSCPD, a different kind of answer
YLSCPD is an anionic–cationic gemini-type surfactant with intramolecular complexation. Its dual alkyl chains and phosphate–quaternary ammonium ion pairs build a micellar network that thickens in three dimensions — which is why it delivers six functions from one raw material:
- Efficient thickening
- Foaming and foam stabilising
- Support for the preservation system
- Mild skin feel
- Conditioning and anti-static action
- Formulation simplification
In practice, formulators use it to build viscosity in sulfate-free systems without heavy salt loading, to support preservation in wipes and rinse-off formats, and to shorten an INCI list. For a distributor, it is the easiest technical story in the line: one drum doing the work of several.
How to choose
| If your brief is… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clear, transparent facial cleansing gel | YLKCG | Potassium salt gives high solubility and clarity with rich foam |
| Creamy amino-acid cleansing paste | YLSCG + YLSLG | YLSCG builds body, YLSLG raises mildness and after-feel |
| Premium facial cleanser, small batch, high value | YLSMLT | Premium positioning with a 12 kg pack suited to limited runs |
| Sulfate-free shampoo that needs viscosity | YLSCPD, optionally with YLSMCT | Micellar network thickening without heavy salt loading |
| Hard-water market (Middle East, parts of Europe, Latin America, South Asia) | YLSLSA or YLSMCT | Both specified for hard-water performance |
| Baby care or sensitive-skin positioning | YLSLOA2 or YLSCA3 | Oat- and apple-derived grades developed for delicate skin |
| Wipes and rinse-off where preservation load matters | YLSCPD | Contributes to preservation-system optimisation |
| Home care: dishwashing, laundry, fabric care | YLSCPD or YLSMCT | Detergency and foam stability at a competitive active cost |
| Cutting the number of raw materials | YLSCPD | One ingredient covering several functions |
Powder or liquid?
| Powder (90–95% active) | Liquid (25–30%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Freight efficiency | High — you ship active matter, not water | Lower |
| Cost per kg of active | Lower | Higher |
| Plant requirement | Needs dissolving / neutralising; more batch time | Cold-mix drop-in |
| Sampling and trial speed | Slower | Faster |
| Best for | Volume accounts, long shipping routes, cost-driven briefs | Speed-to-market, plants without a powder handling step |
Most distributors stock the liquid version for sampling and the powder version for volume accounts.
Note that the majority of grades are available in both — the exception is YLSMLT, supplied as a 95% powder in a 12 kg pack.
Application playbooks
| Product type | Starting system | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear amino-acid facial gel | YLKCG 20–30% (as supplied) | Pair with a small amount of YLSCPD for viscosity |
| Creamy amino-acid cleanser paste | YLSCG 25–35% + YLSLG 5–10% | Classic amino-acid paste structure |
| Sulfate-free shampoo | YLSCPD 3–8% + YLSMCT 8–15% | Viscosity plus foam plus hard-water reliability |
| Baby wash | YLSLOA2 15–25% | Natural-source mildness for infant skin |
| Sensitive-skin facial cleanser | YLSCA3 15–25% + YLSLG 3–5% | Soft cleansing with a conditioning after-feel |
| Hand dishwashing liquid | YLSCPD 3–6% + a primary anionic | Foam boost and mildness on hands |
| Laundry / fabric care | YLSMCT 5–12% | Detergency in hard water |
Use levels above are development starting points, not formulation instructions. Always confirm with stability testing.
Pairing with the rest of the IngreLink line
| Need | Pair with |
|---|---|
| Reducing the preservative load in rinse-off | Preservative Alternatives — YLEHG |
| Calming a high-surfactant or sensitive-skin system | Anti-Irritation Soothing — YLBMS at 0.2–0.5% |
| Solubilising fragrance or botanical oils | Emulsifiers — YLPG-10LAURATE |
| Light sensory wash-off without residue | Synthetic Esters — YLTEO |
Claims and compliance notes
- “Sulfate-free”, “amino acid”, “for sensitive skin” and “tear-free” claims each have specific regional requirements. “Tear-free” in particular requires its own test — do not assume it from mildness data alone.
- “Antibacterial” is a drug-type claim in many jurisdictions. YLSCPD’s contribution to the preservation system protects the product; phrase finished-product copy as “helps keep the product fresh” rather than as a health claim.
- “Natural” and “natural-derived” have different thresholds by market. Our apple- and oat-derived grades support a natural-origin story, but the claim should be verified against your certification scheme and local guidance.
- Documentation: batch COA (active content verified), TDS, SDS/MSDS,documentation where applicable, retained samples and batch traceability. The official batch COA governs.
Two audiences, two shortlists
If you are a formulator: request three samples — YLKCG (transparent gel), YLSCG (creamy paste) and YLSCPD (system simplification). Almost every cleansing brief lands on one of those three plus a co-surfactant.
If you are a distributor: stock YLSCPD first. It is the most differentiated product in the line, it crosses from personal care into home care, and the cost-in-use argument is easy to demonstrate at the customer’s bench. Add YLSCG as your volume workhorse.
Frequently asked questions
Which surfactant should I use in a hard-water market? YLSLSA or YLSMCT, both specified for hard-water resistance. For shampoos that also need viscosity, combine YLSMCT with YLSCPD.
What is the difference between YLKCG and YLSCG? Both are cocoyl glycinates. The potassium salt (YLKCG) is highly soluble and gives transparent systems with rich foam; the sodium salt (YLSCG) is the general-purpose building block, better suited to creamy pastes.
Can YLSCPD replace several ingredients at once? That is its purpose. It functions as thickener, foam booster and stabiliser, conditioning agent and preservation-system support. Validate the simplification on your own formula before locking the cost model.
Which grade is best for baby wash? YLSLOA2 (oat amino acids) or YLSCA3 (apple amino acids) — both developed with infant and sensitive skin in mind.
Why is there no liquid form of YLSMLT? YLSMLT is supplied as a 95% powder in a 12 kg pack, targeted at premium, lower-volume facial and hair applications. Contact us if you need a different form.
What are typical lead times and MOQ? Standard lead time is 7–30 days with flexible MOQ. Samples ship with TDS, SDS/MSDS and COA, normally within 24 hours for documentation.
Continue through the series
Emulsifiers → · Synthetic Esters → · Whitening Actives → · Preservative Alternatives → · Anti-Irritation Soothing →
Ready to shortlist? Tell us your product type, target foam profile and local water hardness, and our formulation team will return two or three candidate grades with starting systems and samples — usually within one working day. Request samples and documentation · fiona@ingrelink.com · +86 186 8017 1796
Guangzhou IngreLink New Material Co., Ltd. — Sincerity · Agility · Win-Win. Data referenced are from internal testing; the official batch COA and test report govern. Cosmetic ingredients only — not for drug or medical use. Finished-product claims, registration and labelling are the responsibility of the brand.
www.ingrelink.com
Leave a Reply