Sodium Olivamphoacetate

Overview

Sodium olivamphoacetate is an amphoteric surfactant made by reacting olive oil fatty acids with chloroacetic acid and aminoethylethanolamine, then neutralising with sodium hydroxide. The olive-derived fatty acid backbone is what gives it its name and its natural-product positioning. Most cosmetic-grade material is supplied as a 30-40% aqueous solution — a clear to slightly yellow viscous liquid with a faint fatty odour.

As an amphoteric surfactant, it carries both positive and negative charges depending on the pH of the formula. That dual nature makes it unusually compatible with other surfactant classes and unusually gentle on skin and eyes compared to straight anionic surfactants.

Shelf life is typically 12-24 months in the original sealed container, stored cool and away from direct sunlight.

What it does in a formula

Sodium olivamphoacetate is rarely used as the sole surfactant in a formulation. Its main role is as a secondary or co-surfactant alongside primary anionic surfactants such as sodium cocoyl isethionate or sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate. In that role it boosts foam quality, increases mildness, and improves viscosity response to salt thickening.

It also acts as a hair conditioning agent at very low levels, leaving a soft after-feel on hair and skin. This makes it particularly useful in shampoos, baby washes, intimate cleansers, and facial cleansers where mildness is the headline claim.

In sulfate-free systems it can soften the harshness that some isethionate-only formulas can have, rounding out the foam and the rinse-off feel.

How to use

Add to the water phase along with other surfactants. Tolerates heat up to 80 C, so it can sit in the heated water phase without issue.

Active matter is typically 30-40% in the supplied liquid — use rates below refer to the as-supplied product, not 100% active.

Usage rates by product type:

• Shampoos (co-surfactant): 5-15%
• Body washes and shower gels: 5-20%
• Facial cleansers (mild): 3-15%
• Baby washes: 5-15%
• Intimate washes: 3-10%
• Bubble baths: 10-30%
• Hand washes: 5-15%

Best for / Worst for

Best for: mild surfactant systems, natural-positioned cleansers, sulfate-free shampoos, baby and sensitive-skin washes, facial cleansers, foam boosting in low-foam isethionate systems.

Worst for: anhydrous formulas (it is water-based), leave-on products (it is a wash-off surfactant), strong degreasing cleansers where high detergency is the goal.

Common pitfalls

Treating the supplied liquid as 100% active. Sodium olivamphoacetate is sold at 30-40% active matter. A formula using 10% of the supplied product is only delivering 3-4% active surfactant. Always check the supplier specification before calculating active surfactant percentages.

Using it as a sole surfactant. As an amphoteric, it has limited cleansing power on its own. Pairing it with at least one primary anionic surfactant gives a much more functional final product.

pH mismatch. Sodium olivamphoacetate works across a broad pH range but performs best at pH 5-7. Strongly acidic or alkaline formulas can shift its charge balance and reduce mildness.

Confusing it with cocamidopropyl betaine. Both are mild amphoterics often used in similar roles, but they are not interchangeable on a 1:1 basis — olivamphoacetate is typically more viscous and slightly milder, but foams less aggressively.

Substitutes

• Cocamidopropyl betaine — most common amphoteric, foams more, slightly less mild.
• Coco-betaine — similar amphoteric role, coconut-derived.
• Sodium cocoamphoacetate — coconut-derived equivalent, very similar function.
• Lauryl glucoside — non-ionic alternative for mildness, different foam profile.