Cocamide MEA 1 kg

What gives shampoo that thick, creamy foam texture

Cocamide MEA is a secondary surfactant rarely used on its own, yet almost indispensable when paired with primary anionic cleansers. Its main function is thickening the finished formula and stabilizing the foam structure, giving it a denser, more cream-like character that lasts longer during use. This is exactly why cocamide MEA belongs to the Surfactants section, which brings together components used to build cleansing and foaming systems across household, industrial and cosmetic applications.

The primary industrial application of this ingredient is the manufacturing of shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps, dishwashing liquids and car shampoos. In household chemical production, cocamide MEA is valued for its ability to stabilize foam even in hard water and maintain cleansing performance when exposed to grease and heavy soiling. In the cosmetic industry, this component is introduced into shampoo and body wash formulas as a thickener, which reduces the need for excessive salt and results in a more comfortable, pleasant texture. Cocamide MEA also acts as an emulsion stabilizer, helping active ingredients distribute evenly throughout the formula.

This ingredient blends well with most anionic and nonionic surfactants. It is often combined with Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which provides the primary foaming action while cocamide MEA brings the consistency to the desired thickness. It also pairs well with Sodium Coco Sulfate in formulas with a gentler cleansing profile, while for milder, sulfate-free systems it is often teamed with Sugar surfactant based on Decyl Glucoside, allowing formulators to achieve a mild yet sufficiently thick final product.

Cocamide MEA should be introduced during the surfactant blending stage, in the warm phase at approximately 50-60 degrees Celsius, melting it gradually and mixing until fully homogeneous. A typical working dosage ranges from 2 to 6 percent of the total formula weight, depending on the desired thickness and foam stability. It is best added in small portions to avoid clumping and to achieve even thickening throughout the batch. After incorporation, the mixture is cooled to room temperature, and consistency can be further adjusted with salt or other thickening agents if needed.

The 1 kilogram package size is well suited for small cosmetic workshops, formulation laboratories and studio-scale production runs of shampoos, gels and cleansing products in moderate batch sizes. This quantity allows for repeated formula testing and trial production runs before scaling up to larger manufacturing volumes.

Store cocamide MEA in a tightly sealed container, in a dry place protected from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations. During prolonged storage in cooler conditions the product may harden slightly, which does not affect its properties - simply warm the container gently in a water bath before use.

Creamy dish soap concentrate

Sodium Laureth Sulfate 250 g

Cocamide MEA 35 g

Sodium Coco Sulfate 40 g

Distilled water 650 g

Salt 15 g

Fragrance 8 g

Preservative 5 g

Warm the distilled water to about 55 degrees Celsius and dissolve Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Coco Sulfate, then gradually add cocamide MEA in small portions while stirring continuously until fully dissolved. Cool the mixture to room temperature, add fragrance and preservative, then adjust the final thickness by slowly dissolving salt into the blend while checking the consistency after each addition.