Description

What is Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids?

YLSCA3 (CAS 68188-38-5) is a mild anionic surfactant built from coconut fatty acids and apple-derived amino acids. The coconut fatty acid supplies the oil-loving (lipophilic) tail that does the cleaning; the acylated apple amino acid supplies the polar head that makes the molecule water-soluble, weakly acidic and unusually kind to skin. That combination is why it is the workhorse of gentle, sulfate-free cleansing systems.

It is supplied as a clear, colourless to pale yellow liquid with 28–32 % active content, ready to use cold with simple stirring. Compared with SLES it cleans on a much softer curve: foam is fine, dense and creamy rather than big and airy, it performs well in hard water, and it rinses clean without leaving skin tight or squeaky. Because the head group sits close to skin’s own pH, it is well tolerated around the eyes and on delicate or reactive skin — the reason it appears in baby wash, facial cleansers and sensitive-skin ranges.

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Key Benefits

• Very low irritation potential — gentle to skin and eyes, and suitable for baby care and sensitive-skin formulas without giving up cleansing power.
• Sulfate-free alternative to SLES — cleans on a softer curve, so skin does not feel tight or stripped after rinsing.
• Fine, dense, creamy foam — abundant lather that holds up well in hard water and stays stable across a wide pH range, peaking around pH 7.
• Moisturising and conditioning — supplier moisture-retention data show around 67 % at 6 hours and 62 % at 24 hours; on hair it improves smoothness and reduces static.
• Naturally derived and biodegradable — coconut- and apple-derived building blocks, no added preservative, easy fit for clean-beauty positioning.

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FAQ

• lWhat is Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids used for?

As a mild primary or co-surfactant for gentle cleansing: facial washes, baby shampoo and bath, sulfate-free shampoo, body wash, hand wash, makeup remover and wet wipes. It is chosen wherever a formula has to be gentle and still foam well.

•  Is it sulfate-free, and can it replace SLES?

Yes — it is an amino acid surfactant, not a sulfate. It can replace part or all of the SLES in a formula, giving lower irritation and a softer after-feel. Most formulators keep it at 8 %–30 % together with a mild secondary surfactant to optimise cost and lather.

• How much should I use?

Rinse-off products: 5 %–30 %. Leave-on products: 0.1 %–0.8 %. Start with the lowest level that gives the foam and cleansing you need, then adjust.