Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate

What is Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate?

Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an anionic surfactant formed as the potassium salt of cocoyl glycine, combining fatty acids from coconut oil with the amino acid glycine. This creates a mild, biodegradable cleansing agent commonly used in shampoos, facial cleansers, body washes, and other rinse-off personal care products. It functions by lowering surface tension to produce stable, creamy foam while effectively lifting dirt, excess sebum, and residues from skin and hair. The amino acid backbone enhances its gentleness, minimizing disruption to the skin's moisture barrier compared to traditional sulfates. In formulations, it contributes to a soft, non-drying after-rinse feel, supporting its role in products designed for frequent use on face, body, and scalp.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores
EWG Safety Rating 1 View on EWG →

Roles in Formulation

This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:

Hair conditioning
Improves softness, shine, and manageability by reducing friction and static; commonly achieved with cationic agents, silicones, oils, or conditioning polymers.
Surfactant
Lowers surface tension to enable cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming; central to shampoos, body washes, and many emulsions and micellar systems.
Cleansing agent
Removes dirt, oil, and impurities by lowering surface tension and forming micelles, enabling soils to be lifted and rinsed away from skin, hair, or teeth.

Benefits

Delivers gentle cleansing action to remove impurities while preserving natural oils.

Offers hair conditioning effects for improved manageability and reduced friction.

Creates rich, stable foam in washes without harshness.

Who It's For

A quick guide for who this ingredient may suit (and who should be cautious).

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
Individuals with sensitive skin seeking mild daily cleansers.
Those with known allergies to coconut-derived components.
People with dry or damaged hair needing conditioning surfactants.
People sensitive to amino acid-based surfactants.
Users preferring coconut-derived ingredients in rinse-off products.
Individuals experiencing irritation from mild anionic cleansers.

Safety Notes

  • Considered low hazard in cosmetic concentrations based on safety assessments.
  • Non-comedogenic, unlikely to clog pores.

Frequently Asked Questions about Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate

What is Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate derived from?

It comes from coconut fatty acids combined with glycine, an amino acid, forming a gentle potassium salt surfactant.

Is it suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, its mild nature makes it a good choice for sensitive skin in cleansing products.

What products commonly contain it?

Found in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers for foaming and conditioning.