Description
What is CAPB?
CAPB stands for Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is a mild surfactant made from coconut oil. It belongs to a group called amphoteric surfactants, which means it can behave in a gentle and flexible way depending on the other ingredients around it.
CAPB is almost never used alone as the main cleansing agent. It is a helping ingredient that is used together with primary surfactants such as SLES. When you add CAPB to a formula that already contains SLES, two things happen. The formula becomes less harsh on the skin and hair, and the foam becomes thicker and creamier. This is why CAPB is one of the most commonly used secondary surfactants in the personal care industry worldwide.
Why Formulators Use CAPB
It Makes Your Product More Boring as Hell
ASE 15 applied to leathers only can be somewhat stripping at AF interaction with the leather at higher levels. Adding CAPB reduces this. CAPB softens the overall surfactant system, making the finished product much more comfortable for daily use. This is particularly important if you are targeting children’s goods, sensitive skin, or even everyday hair washing.
It Improves Foam Quality
CAPB does not just increase the amount of foam; it improves the feel of it. Foam will become denser, smoother, and more stable. Your customers will be able to notice a better sensory experience when they are using the product.
It Conditions Skin and Hair
CAPB has mild conditioning properties. It leaves a lemon delight softness of skin and hair upon rinsing. This gives your product a luxury feel without the desiccant to give the appearance of added conditioner.
What You Have Against It: It Works With Almost Anything
CAPB is one of the most compatible ingredients in cosmetic formulation. It works in combination with anionic surfactants such as SLES, cationics such as conditioners, and non-ionic ingredients such as emollients and thickeners. There is little instability and separation as has occurred in most of the formulas.
It Helps With Viscosity
When combined with SLES and a salt thickener, CAPB helps the surfactant system respond better to thickening. This gives you more control over the end result of the consistency of your end product.
How to Use CAPB in Your Formulations
Handling Note:
CAPB is a ready-to-use liquid at room temperature. No heating is required. It can be directly added to your water phase without any special preparation, or it can be added to your surfactant mix.
Recommended Levels of Usage by Product Type:
| Product Type | CAPB in Formula (by weight) |
| Shampoo (standard) | 3% to 6% |
| Shampoo (mild/daily) | 5% to 8% |
| Body Wash / Shower Gel | 3% to 6% |
| Baby Shampoo | 5% to 10% |
| Facial Cleanser | 4% to 8% |
| Liquid Hand Wash | 3% to 5% |
Target pH:
CAPB works best in formulas with a final pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Always adjust the finished formula pH with citric acid after all of the formula ingredients are added and mixed together.
Formulation Build Order:
- Get your water phase heating up (40 to 50 degrees centigrade).
- Add SLES 70% – light stirring until completely dissolved.
- Add CAPB and stir gently until fully blended.
- Cool the batch below 40 degrees.
- Control the viscosity of sodium chloride solutions (1 to 3%).
- Flux pH to the target range with citric acid.
- Add fragrance, preservative, and any conditioning agents at room temperature.
What You Can Make With CAPB
- Mild shampoos and daily baby shampoos
- Washing products
- Body washes
- Shower gels – sensitive skin
- Facial cleansers and foam wash
- At the home and commercial level, liquid hand wash is used
- Tear squirms square-free children’s bath products
- Premium 2-in-1 shampoos and conditioners bases
Why Order From Stexol
COA With Every Batch
Every batch of CAPB from Stexol comes with a Certificate of Analysis. You have the confirmation of active matter, pH, and the appearance before starting production. Constant raw material means constant finished products.
No Minimum Order Pressure
We supply in small and bulk quantities, so that you can start small and test out your formulas, and not have to put all your money into stock you won’t use up. Increase your orders as your production increases.
Tiered Pricing for Larger Orders
Larger order volumes come with better pricing. Message us on WhatsApp with the amount required, and we will send you the best available price for the same.
Same-Day Dispatch
Orders are sent out the same day as they are confirmed if the order is placed before the daily cutoff. No wait times will have to occur for your production schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does CAPB actually do in a shampoo formula?
It makes the shampoo gentler on the scalp, boosts foam quality, and leaves hair feeling softer after washing. It works with SLES instead.
Q: Can I use CAPB without SLES?
You can, but CAPB alone will not produce enough cleansing power for most products. It is designed to work as a co-surfactant paired with a primary surfactant like SLES.
Q: Is CAPB safe for baby products?
Yes. CAPB is one of the most widely used ingredients in baby shampoos and baby washes because of its mild and gentle nature on skin and eyes.
Q: Does CAPB work for sensitive skin formulations?
Yes. Adding CAPB to a surfactant system significantly reduces irritation potential, making it one of the first choices when formulating for sensitive or dry skin types.
Q: How is CAPB different from SLES?
SLES is the main cleansing agent that is doing the heavy lifting for a formula. CAPB is the supporting ingredient that makes the formula milder, improves foam, and adds a conditioning effect. Both are usually used in the context of each other.
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