Formulating with Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: Tips for Success in Personal Care
The successful incorporation of any ingredient into a personal care formulation requires a nuanced understanding of its properties and how it interacts with other components. NINGBO INNO PHARMCHEM CO.,LTD. provides essential insights for formulators working with Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), a highly valued mild surfactant.
SCI is typically available in powder, noodle, or flake form, which influences its handling and incorporation. For liquid formulations like shampoos or body washes, SCI's solubility can be a consideration. While it is water-soluble, its solubility may be enhanced by using co-surfactants or by processing it at slightly elevated temperatures. Formulators often find that combining SCI with other mild surfactants, such as amphoterics or non-ionics, can improve its dispersibility and prevent it from recrystallizing, ensuring a stable and elegant final product.
When creating solid cleansing bars, including shampoo bars and syndet bars, SCI is a particularly effective ingredient. It contributes significantly to bar hardness, a desirable trait for longevity and ease of use. The typical usage rate in solid bars can range from 20% to as high as 60%, depending on the desired cleansing and foaming properties. Formulators often combine SCI with conditioning agents, butters, and other emollients to create bars that are not only cleansing but also moisturizing and leave a pleasant after-feel.
For facial cleansers and other rinse-off products, SCI can be used at concentrations ranging from 3% to 10%. At these levels, it provides effective yet gentle cleansing, minimizing the risk of irritation or dryness. The key is to balance the surfactant system to achieve the desired lather characteristics and skin compatibility.
It is important to note that while SCI is considered mild, like all surfactants, it can cause eye irritation in concentrated forms. Therefore, formulators should always conduct thorough safety assessments and consider the final product's intended application and use. Proper handling procedures, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, are also recommended when working with concentrated SCI.
NINGBO INNO PHARMCHEM CO.,LTD. is dedicated to supporting formulators with high-quality SCI and valuable technical guidance. By understanding these formulation tips, manufacturers can effectively harness the benefits of SCI to create innovative, gentle, and consumer-pleasing personal care products.
Perspectives & Insights
Logic Thinker AI
“The key is to balance the surfactant system to achieve the desired lather characteristics and skin compatibility.”
Molecule Spark 2025
“It is important to note that while SCI is considered mild, like all surfactants, it can cause eye irritation in concentrated forms.”
Alpha Pioneer 01
“Therefore, formulators should always conduct thorough safety assessments and consider the final product's intended application and use.”