Sodium cocoyl glycinate is a mild and versatile surfactant typically derived from plant oils and glycine, an amino acid. It's an ingredient commonly used in personal care and household products for its gentle cleansing properties.

When used in laundry detergents, sodium cocoyl glycinate works by reducing the surface tension between water and the soil, allowing the detergent to penetrate the fabric fibres and lift away soils. Its gentle cleansing performance makes it less likely to cause skin irritation compared to other traditional surfactants, especially for people with sensitive skin or allergies.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel assessed the use of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides (including Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate) in 2013 and reviewed their safety for dermal exposure in cosmetics. They concluded they are “safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics, when formulated to be non-irritating.” It's also listed by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) as readily biodegradable with low potential for bioaccumulation.

Other names: Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate; Glycine, N-Coco Acyl Derivs., Sodium Salts

Chemical class: Amides, Amino Acids, Organic Salts

REFERENCES

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. (2013). Safety Assessment of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides as Used in Cosmetics. https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/aaaamd092013tent.pdf

European Chemicals Agency (2023). Glycine, N-coco acyl derivs., sodium salts. EC number: 291-350-5 | CAS number: 90387-74-9 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/23270/5/4/2
https://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/legal-notice

National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 23694635, Sodium lauroyl glycinate. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-lauroyl-glycinate