Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Comedogenic Rating & Ingredient Analysis
Cocamidopropyl betaine, often shortened to CAPB, is a mild, coconut-derived surfactant used across face cleansers, shampoos and body washes. It is an amphoteric surfactant, meaning it carries both positive and negative charges, which makes it gentler than strong anionic detergents like SLS. Formulators rarely use it alone; instead they add it to soften harsher primary surfactants, boost and stabilise foam, and improve the overall feel of a cleanser. Its coconut origin and mildness have made it a mainstay of products marketed as gentle and sulfate-free.
Quick facts
- Comedogenic rating
- our estimate — not measured
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Effective pH
- —
- Typical strength
- 1–10% (in cleansers)
- Pregnancy
- Considered safe
- Suits skin types
- oilydrycombinationsensitivenormalacne-prone
Where this number comes from
No one has published a comedogenic rating for this ingredient. Fulton's 1989 table tested about 250 raw materials and this was not among them, and we found no later study measuring it. The figure shown is our own reasoning from the ingredient's chemistry and how it is used — treat it as an estimate, not a measurement.
Fulton read his own scale as 0-1 not significant, 2-3 borderline, 4-5 positive. The assay is the rabbit ear at 10% dilution, which the paper itself calls extremely sensitive and not fully predictive of human skin. Ratings describe the raw ingredient; concentration and formulation change real-world behaviour.
Caution profile
The four published fields on this page, on one 0–5 scale. Further from the centre means more care is needed — never that the ingredient is worse.
Derived, not measured: pore-clogging is the published comedogenic rating; irritation maps low/moderate/high to 1/3/5; pregnancy maps safe/caution/avoid to 0/3/5; skin-type limits is how many of the seven skin types this entry does NOT list. Every input is printed in words in the quick-facts card above.
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 | Published field |
|---|---|---|
| Pore-clogging | 0 | 0/5 |
| Irritation | 1 | Low |
| Skin-type limits | 0.7 | 6/7 |
| Pregnancy | 0 | Considered safe |
Working pH and typical strength
Where this ingredient is formulated to sit, and at what concentration.
Both bars come from the fields above: the pH window and the typical strength range published for this ingredient. The tinted column is healthy skin's surface pH (about 4.7–5.75).
Show the numbers
| Metric | 0–5 |
|---|---|
| Typical strength | 1–10% (in cleansers) |
What is it?
CAPB is made by reacting fatty acids from coconut oil with a compound called dimethylaminopropylamine. In a formula it works as a secondary or co-surfactant: it cleans modestly on its own but shines at reducing the irritation potential of stronger surfactants while thickening and stabilising lather. This buffering role is why you see it paired with SLES or sugar-based surfactants such as coco-glucoside in so many gentle cleansers. It has a low irritation profile for the great majority of users. One nuance worth knowing is that manufacturing impurities, rather than the pure molecule, are responsible for the occasional allergy reports associated with it.
Benefits
Softens harsher surfactants
CAPB reduces the irritation potential of stronger detergents, letting formulators build effective yet gentler cleansers.
Boosts and stabilises foam
It thickens lather and makes foam denser and more stable, improving the sensory feel of a cleanser without harshness.
Coconut-derived and mild
Its coconut origin and amphoteric structure make it far gentler than anionic-only surfactants, suiting sensitive-skin formulas.
Improves cleanser texture
It contributes to a smoother, creamier product and better rinse-off, enhancing the overall experience of using a wash.
How to use
CAPB is a rinse-off cleansing ingredient; use products containing it as directed and rinse thoroughly. It is a good sign in a gentle cleanser, often combined with sugar-based surfactants like coco-glucoside or sodium-cocoyl-isethionate and humectants such as glycerin. For most people, including those with sensitive or acne-prone skin, it needs no special handling. If you have a history of reacting to it, note that the culprit is usually a manufacturing impurity, so patch testing a specific product is more informative than avoiding the ingredient name outright.
Side effects
CAPB is well tolerated by the large majority of users. It has been named a contact allergen, but investigations found that trace impurities from its manufacture, such as amidoamine and dimethylaminopropylamine, are the actual sensitisers rather than the pure surfactant. Modern, better-purified grades have lower reaction rates. For people without a specific sensitivity, it is one of the gentler cleansing ingredients available.
Who should avoid it
Only people with a confirmed allergy to cocamidopropyl betaine or its manufacturing impurities need to avoid it, which is uncommon. For everyone else, including sensitive and acne-prone skin, it is a suitable, mild co-surfactant. If you have reacted before, look for cleansers built on pure sugar-based surfactants instead.
Pairs well with
Frequently asked questions
Is cocamidopropyl betaine gentle?
Yes. It is a mild, coconut-derived co-surfactant used to soften harsher detergents and boost foam. It has a low irritation profile and is common in gentle, sulfate-free and sensitive-skin cleansers.
Why is cocamidopropyl betaine sometimes called an allergen?
Reports of allergy are usually traced to trace impurities from its manufacture, not the pure surfactant. Better-purified modern grades have reduced these reactions considerably.
Is cocamidopropyl betaine natural?
It is derived from coconut oil but chemically processed, so it is best described as coconut-derived rather than strictly natural. Its mildness and plant origin make it popular in gentle formulas.
Does cocamidopropyl betaine cause acne?
No. It has a comedogenic rating of zero, is used in rinse-off products, and does not clog pores, so it does not cause breakouts and suits acne-prone skin.
Where this ingredient shows up here
Counted across this database, not the web — these are the pages on this site that reason about this ingredient.
Sources & further reading
Medical disclaimer
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