Coco Glucoside: Uses, Grades and Safety
Coco glucoside is a mild non-ionic surfactant made from coconut-derived fatty alcohol and glucose. It is used as a gentle cleansing and foaming agent in sulphate-free shampoos, face washes, body washes and baby cleansers. It is usually sold as a thick, yellowish liquid of about 50% active content.
Last updated 7 Nov 2026
Specifications
- CAS number
- 141464-42-8
- Grades
- Cosmetic
- Hindi name
- कोको ग्लूकोसाइड
Products and pack sizes
| Product | Grade | Pack | Price (incl. GST) | ₹ per kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coco Glucoside | Cosmetic | — | ₹199 | — |
What is coco glucoside?
Coco glucoside is an alkyl polyglucoside surfactant. It is made by joining fatty alcohols from coconut oil with glucose. It cleans and foams like other surfactants but is known for being gentle, so it is common in sulphate-free and baby products.
- INCI name: Coco-Glucoside
- CAS number: 141464-42-8
- Type: non-ionic surfactant, works alongside anionic, amphoteric and other non-ionic surfactants
- Typical form: viscous, pale yellow, cloudy liquid, often about 50% active with a high pH
Because it is a mixture rather than a single molecule, there's no single formula. Check the active content on the supplier's certificate.
Grades and pack sizes at Azlok
Azlok lists coco glucoside under cosmetic raw ingredients, so it is meant for cosmetic and personal care formulating. The listing doesn't state a pack size or active percentage; check the product page or ask for the certificate of analysis. See today's price per kg.
Common uses
- Sulphate-free shampoos and body washes, as a main or co-surfactant
- Face washes, micellar-style cleansers and baby washes
- Foaming hand washes
- Boosting mildness and foam in formulas that also contain SLES or other anionic surfactants
- Gentle household cleaners such as general surface sprays and dishwash blends
How to use it
Typical ranges. Supplier guides commonly give these as-supplied levels for a 50% active coco glucoside. They are typical ranges, not fixed rules:
| Product | Typical as-supplied level |
|---|---|
| Face wash, gentle cleanser | 10 to 20% |
| Shampoo, body wash, shower gel | 15 to 30% |
Mixing. Add coco glucoside to the water phase with slow stirring to avoid excess foam. Mix it with other surfactants before adding thickeners.
Adjust pH. The raw material is alkaline. After mixing, bring the finished product down to a skin-friendly pH, usually around 5 to 6, with a little citric or lactic acid solution, testing with pH strips or a meter.
Thickening. Coco glucoside doesn't thicken well with salt alone. Use a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan gum or a suitable co-surfactant.
Safety and storage
- The concentrate is alkaline and can sting the eyes. Wear safety glasses and gloves when handling it neat. Rinse eyes with plenty of water if splashed.
- Patch test any finished product on a small area of skin for 24 to 48 hours before regular use.
- Finished water-based products need a broad-spectrum preservative.
- Store tightly closed, away from direct sun and frost. It may turn cloudy or thick in cold weather; warm gently and stir.
- Keep away from children.
If you sell finished cosmetics in India, the product must meet BIS standards and CDSCO rules for cosmetics, including labelling. Check the current requirements before launch.
Choosing the right grade and pack
Small packs suit test batches while you adjust foam, thickness and pH. Once the formula is set, buy enough of a single lot for your production run so the colour and viscosity match.
Small brands making regular batches of shampoo or face wash, needing 25 kg or more, can send a bulk inquiry.
Frequently asked questions
- Is coco glucoside sulphate-free?
- Yes. Coco glucoside is a non-ionic alkyl polyglucoside surfactant, not a sulphate. That's why it is used in sulphate-free shampoos and face washes. Check the other ingredients too, since a product is only sulphate-free if none of its surfactants are sulphates.
- How much coco glucoside should I use in shampoo?
- Supplier guides commonly give about 15 to 30% of a 50% active coco glucoside in shampoos and body washes, and 10 to 20% in face washes. Treat these as typical ranges and adjust in small test batches.
- Why is my coco glucoside face wash so thin?
- Coco glucoside doesn't thicken much with salt the way SLES does. Add a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose or xanthan gum, or combine it with a co-surfactant, and check the pH after thickening.
- What pH is coco glucoside?
- The raw material is usually alkaline. In a finished cleanser, bring the pH down to around 5 to 6 using a dilute citric or lactic acid solution. Add the acid slowly and test with pH strips or a meter.
- Is coco glucoside the same as decyl glucoside or lauryl glucoside?
- They are close relatives in the same alkyl polyglucoside family, differing in the length of the fatty alcohol chain. Their foam and feel differ slightly. They can often replace each other with small formula adjustments.
- Do I need a preservative with coco glucoside?
- Yes, if your product contains water. Coco glucoside itself is not a preservative. Any shampoo, face wash or body wash with water needs a suitable broad-spectrum preservative at the level its supplier recommends.