Foaming Agents for Bar Soap and Liquid Cleansers

Asked by: tassaneeyap On: January 09, 2019 Product Type: Cosmetics

Question

I am using `Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate` (Creamy Foamer) and would like to know:

1. Can `Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate` be mixed with water in a formulation?
2. If the formulation contains other surfactants, can `Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate` be mixed with those surfactants first?
3. Can `Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate` withstand heat?

My goal is to achieve abundant, soft, and stable foam, particularly in bar soap.

Answer

Foaming Agents for Soap and Cleansing Products

You're looking for ingredients to create abundant, soft, and stable foam in bar soap, and you've tried Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate. Achieving good, stable foam in bar soap can be influenced by the overall formulation, as other ingredients and the saponification process play a significant role.

Based on your interest in foaming agents and their use, here are some ingredients known for their good lathering properties, including the one you've used:

  • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate: This is a gentle detergent derived from amino acids known for good foaming. It can be mixed with water or other cleansing agents in a formulation and can withstand heat.
  • Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Taurate: Another gentle detergent from amino acids that provides good lather.
  • Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate: An amino acid-derived detergent that moisturizes the skin and provides a large amount of lather.
  • Potassium Cocoate: Produced from coconut oil and potassium hydroxide, this results in a soap with good foaming and high cleaning efficiency.

For liquid cleansing products like facial wash, shampoo, or liquid soap, these ingredients are effective foaming agents and are typically mixed into the water phase of the formulation. While their behavior in bar soap can differ due to the solid format and saponification process, understanding their properties in liquid systems can still be helpful.

Regarding mixing, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate and other similar foaming agents are generally water-soluble and can be incorporated into the water phase of your formulation. The specific step in a bar soap process would depend on your overall recipe and method (e.g., hot process or cold process), but for liquid systems, they are typically added to the water phase.

Achieving the desired foam in bar soap might require adjusting the balance of fatty acids and other additives in your recipe in addition to the choice of foaming agent.