Thickener

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Taurate-Surfactant based on coconut oil — mild, well-foaming, and resistant to hard water. Taurine (an amino acid derivative) provides an especially creamy foam and a gentle feeling after washing. Popular in Japanese premium cleansers.

taurate-surfactantcreamy foamresistant to hard watergentle cleansing

✓ Safe

Comedogenic Rating

0/5

Irritation Potential

0/5

What is it?

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate — a surfactant of the "fatty acid amide of taurine" class: taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, a cysteine derivative) N-methylated and acylated with coconut fatty acids. Molecular weight ~400–450 Da. Well soluble in water. Anionic (sulfonate group): stable over a wide pH range and in the presence of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ions (hard water). Does not denature. Unlike carboxylate surfactants (soap, glycinate, glutamate): taurates are stable in acidic pH and provide stable foam even in hard water. Widely used in Japanese cosmetics (especially Kao, Lion, Shiseido).

Japanese and K-beauty facial cleansers, shampoos for fine and damaged hair, cleansing foams, and shower gels, cleansers for combination and oily skin.

Key Benefits

✦

Creamy stable foam — even in hard water

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate forms an extremely creamy, fine-bubbled foam — the classic "Japanese foam" effect for which Japanese cleansing foams are known worldwide. Key feature: the taurate group is resistant to calcium and magnesium in hard water, where soap and carboxylate surfactants form insoluble precipitates and lose foaming ability. SMCT foams equally well in both soft and hard water.

◈

Softness of taurate class — without tightness

Taurate surfactants differ from regular anionic surfactants (SLS, SLES) by significantly lower protein denaturation potential. Comparative softness studies: SMCT causes less keratin damage than SLES while effectively cleansing sebum. Result: after washing, the skin is soft, without a tight feeling, and pH is restored faster. Ideal for daily use even on sensitive facial skin.

✧

Formula stability and pH flexibility

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is stable at pH 4–9 (a wider range than carboxylate surfactants, which degrade in acidic environments). This allows for formulating pH-balanced cleansers with pH 5–5.5 (optimal for skin), while maintaining good foaming. Compatible with most co-surfactants, including CAPB, Coco-Glucoside, and amphoteric surfactants.

Suitable for

oily and combination skinareas with hard waterdaily cleansing

Main Actions

✓ creamy foam in hard water✓ gentle taurate cleansing✓ pH-stable cleansing

SMCT in Japanese cosmetics

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate — the quintessence of Japanese foaming technology. Japanese brands (Senka Perfect Whip, Shiseido Senka, Hada Labo some lines) use SMCT or its analogs to achieve 'dense cream foam' — fine-bubbled creamy foam, considered a premium standard in Japanese skincare culture. Often combined with CAPB and Coco-Glucoside.

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