What Is Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate? Is It Skin-Safe?

Get your facts right before including this skin-friendly ingredient in your haircare regimen.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Enrizza Factor, MD

Dr. Enrizza Factor is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Surgery Foundation Inc. She is also a member of the Philippine Academy of Cutaneous Surgery and an Associate of ... more

Written by Anjali Sayee, BTech Experience: 7 years

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy ... more

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Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Beng... more

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• Feb 8, 2024

What Is Sodium Methyl Cococyl Taurate Is It Skin-Safe

Image: Shutterstock

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is a surfactant derived from coconuts. This natural and biodegradable ingredient is milder than other surfactants (like sulfates). You can use sodium methyl cocoyl taurate products for skin issues in adults and babies. It helps improve the skin texture and keeps it soft and smooth. This article explores the various benefits and safety of this ingredient. Keep reading to learn more.

Know Your Ingredient: Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

What Is It?
A mild surfactant, made from the coconut fatty acid N-methyltaurine, used in skin care.

What Are Its Benefits?
Cleanses the skin without drying it, improves product absorption in skin, prevents inflammation, and strengthens the skin barrier.

Who Can Use It?
Suitable for both adults and children and all skin types.

How Often?
Can be used daily or as recommended on the product or a dermatologist.

Caution
It may cause eye irritation and skin rash.

In This Article

What Is Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate?

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is a mild surfactant derived from coconut. It is white and has a paste-like consistency. It is found in many skin and hair care products like cleansers and shampoos (rinse-off products), including baby products. However, it is also used in leave-on products like foundations and face powders and other products like mouthwashes and breath fresheners (1).

According to Dr. Sandra El Hajj, Founder & President of The American Preventive Health Organization, “Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate or SMCT is the best alternative to harsh silicones and is safe for use due to its minimal side effects.”

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, MD, says, “ Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is mild, less potent, and does not alter the skin pH. As a result, it is suitable for people with sensitive skin.” This ingredient has numerous benefits. Let’s take a look.

What Does It Do?

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate may help soften and moisturize skin

Image: Shutterstock

Taurates like sodium methyl cocoyl taurate are mild anionic surfactants. They are commonly used in sulfate-free shampoos to cleanse the scalp without drying as they have a chemically stable pH (2).
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate can enhance the penetration of other ingredients in the skin (1).
Taurine surfactants may also exhibit antioxidant properties, regulate inflammatory responses, and enhance the skin barrier function (3).
Since it is a non-drying cleanser, it can keep the skin soft and moisturized after use. It is also said to be safe non-irritating, moisturizing, and gentle for sensitive skin.

Trivia?

In 1992, NASA received a patent to use SMCT at concentrations of 98.6% as a whole-body cleansing agent for astronauts to avoid water wastage (4).

There are two ways to prepare sodium methyl cocoyl taurate. Find out in the next section.

How Is Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Made?

Method 1

SMCT is prepared by dissolving N-methyl taurine (a coconut fatty acid amide) in a blend of sodium hydrate, isopropyl alcohol, and water.
A mixture of lauric acid, sodium chloride, and sodium hydrate is added to the solution.
A solution of calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid is added to the blend.

The mixture is then refined, strained, and dried, forming a whitish powdery substance. It can also be found as a solution mixed with water and sodium chloride (1).

Method 2

In this method, coconut fatty acid amide – N-methyl taurine, sodium methyl taurate solution, and boric acid are heated at 200° C.
It is then distilled in water and stirred at lower heat and pressure levels.
The mixture is cooled down to form a wax-like substance that is powdered.

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is added to almost all skin care and hair care products. Here are some of the products you can find this mild surfactant in.

What Products Is It Commonly Found In?

Various skincare products with sodium methyl cocoyl taurate

Image: Shutterstock

- Face washes
- Low pH anti-acne products
- Shampoos
- Body washes
- Face masks
- Toothpastes
- Liquid soaps

Bubble bath soaps
Skin creams
Skin lotions
Baby care products
Oral products

Did You Know?

SMCT is used in concentrations of up to 21.5% in rinse-off products (5).

This mild surfactant is used in different concentrations, based on the product formulation. But how much of it can be used in skin care products? Let us find out.

Safe Concentration In Skin Care Products

According to the Cosmetics Ingredient Review (CIR), sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (SMCT) is safe for use at concentrations of up to 10%. The CIR conducted various tests to conclude that SMCT showed negative results in terms of skin irritation, thereby marking it safe for use in cosmetics that have a non-irritating formula (5). It is often used at a concentration of 13% in rinse-off foot products and is reportedly used at concentrations of up to 1% in products that may be sprayed. For direct application products, such as face powders, it is present at concentrations of up to 6% and up to 11% in leave-in products.

Although sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is mostly considered safe, it may cause adverse reactions.

Is It Safe For The Skin?

Woman experiencing eye irritation due to sodium methyl cocoyl taurate

Image: Shutterstock

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate may cause (1):

Redness and skin rash (erythema)
Eye irritation

Hence, always do a patch test before using products with sodium methyl cocoyl taurate.

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is a mild, hydrating, natural, and biodegradable surfactant. People use sodium methyl cocoyl taurate for skin care issues in adults and infants due to its mild nature. It helps keep your skin smooth and soft without drying. It can also improve the absorption of other ingredients into the skin. You can find this ingredient in face washes, lotions, shampoos, skin creams, baby care and personal care products for its emulsifying properties. However, it may cause side effects like redness and irritation in some. So, do a patch test to avoid these reactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sodium methyl cocoyl taurate safe during pregnancy?

There is not much information or research available about using sodium methyl cocoyl taurate when pregnant or breastfeeding. Even though sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is generally thought to be safe, it can induce adverse effects. To avoid these reactions, perform a patch test.

Is sodium methyl cocoyl taurate the same as SLS?

No. Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is a prominent substitute that is used by companies for SLS. It is a gentle, long-lasting surfactant with excellent foaming properties but no irritating properties.

What is the other name for sodium methyl cocoyl taurate?

The other names for sodium methyl cocoyl taurate are sodium formyl taurine and sodium methyl cocoyl taurine.

Is sodium methyl cocoyl taurate safe for fungal acne?

No, anecdotal evidence suggests that sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is not safe for fungal acne as it contains fatty acids that may trigger it. However, there are no relevant studies to support this claim.

Is sodium methyl cocoyl taurate vegan and cruelty-free?

Yes, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is vegan and cruelty-free as it is made from all-natural plant-based ingredients like coconut. Also, no animals are known to be harmed in its making.

Key Takeaways

Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate is a surfactant or wetting agent derived from coconut.
It is a biodegradable, mild, and naturally obtained ingredient.
So, it doesn’t alter the skin’s natural pH and moisture balance when used in beauty cosmetics.
It is commonly used as a natural substitute for sulfate in many skincare and haircare products.

References

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