BETAINE

📋 Quick facts

Description: BETAINE — hydration, soothing, osmoprotectant.

All Functions: hydration, soothing, osmoprotectant

Quick Facts:

• Category: humectant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Betaine (specifically cocamidopropyl betaine) is a surfactant derived from coconut oil used in shampoos, cleansers, and other personal care products
• It’s chosen by formulators because it creates mild skin irritation compared to other detergents, helps with foaming, and is readily biodegradable
• Between 3–7.2% of people may develop delayed allergic reactions to it, leading to it being named Allergen of the Year in 2004
• When used at approved concentrations in rinse-off and leave-on products, the safety margin is considered greater than 100, meaning systemic exposure is well below harmful levels
• Allergic reactions typically appear on the head and neck but can occur elsewhere; hairdressers are at higher occupational risk

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Glycine betaine is the amino acid betaine derived from glycine. It has a role as a fundamental metabolite. It is an amino-acid betaine and a glycine derivative. It is a conjugate base of a N,N,N-trimethylglycinium. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the eleven alkyl betaines listed below are safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics, when formulated to be non-irritating…Betaine… Betaine is a methyl group donor that functions in the normal metabolic cycle of methionine. It is a naturally occurring choline derivative commonly ingested through diet, with a role in regulating cellular hydration and maintaining cell function. Homocystinuria is an inherited disorder that leads to the accumulation of homocysteine in plasma and urine. Currently, no treatments are available to correct the genetic causes of homocystinuria. However, in order to normalize homocysteine levels, patients can be treated with vitamin B6 ([pyridoxine]), vitamin B12 ([cobalamin]), [folate] and specific diets. Betaine reduces plasma homocysteine levels in patients with homocystinuria. Although it is present in many food products, the levels found there are insufficient to treat this condition. The FDA and EMA have approved the product Cystadane (betaine anhydrous, oral solution) for the treatment of homocystinuria, and the EMA has approved the use of Amversio (betaine anhydrous, oral powder).

Source(s): DrugBank, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Betaine—specifically cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB)—is a type of surfactant called an amphoteric detergent, meaning it has both positively and negatively charged parts that help it clean by breaking down oils and dirt (Dermatitis, 2008; Toxicol Res, 2024). It’s derived from coconut oil and works in formulations by acting as a surfactant (helps mix water and oil), foam booster, and viscosity controller—essentially making products lather better and feel right in your hands (Toxicol Res, 2024). The ingredient class itself has some genuinely attractive properties: #1 Betaines are readily biodegradable, making them environmentally friendlier than many older synthetic detergents, and #2 they exhibit mild skin irritation profiles compared to other surfactants, which is why formulators prefer them for sensitive applications like baby shampoos and cleansers (Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 2021).

#3 The broad class also shows some antimicrobial activity (Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 2021). However, there’s a significant caveat: while CAPB is considered mild, it can trigger allergic contact dermatitis in a subset of users. #4 Contact sensitization prevalence is estimated between 3.0 and 7.2%, which led to CAPB being designated Allergen of the Year in 2004 (Dermatitis, 2008). #5 The allergic reaction is typically a delayed, T-cell-mediated type IV hypersensitivity—meaning it develops over time rather than immediately—and most commonly appears as dermatitis on the head and neck, though other patterns occur (Am J Contact Dermat, 2001; Contact Dermatitis, 1995).

#6 Manufacturing impurities like amidoamine and dimethylaminopropylamine are thought to contribute to sensitization risk, not just the final CAPB molecule itself (Dermatitis, 2008). On safety at typical use levels: #7 In a 92-day repeated oral toxicity study in rats, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was 250 mg/kg/day (Toxicol Res, 2024). #8 When CAPB is used at up to 6% concentration in leave-on products and 30% in rinse-off products, the estimated systemic exposure ranges from 0.00120 to 0.93195 mg/kg/day—roughly 100 to 200 times lower than the animal study’s safety threshold—yielding a margin of safety greater than 100, which regulatory bodies consider acceptable (Toxicol Res, 2024).

This means for most people using rinse-off products like shampoos, the ingredient is not a systemic toxicity concern. The main risk remains localized allergic sensitization in susceptible individuals.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Jacob SE et al. (2008). Cocamidopropyl betaine. Dermatitis.
• Kim D et al. (2024). Safety assessment of cocamidopropyl betaine, a cosmetic ingredient. Toxicol Res.
• Mowad CM (2001). Cocamidopropyl betaine allergy. Am J Contact Dermat.
• Kelleppan VT et al. (2021). Heads or tails? The synthesis, self-assembly, properties and uses of betaine and betaine-like surfactants. Adv Colloid Interface Sci.
• de Groot AC et al. (1995). Contact allergy to cocamidopropyl betaine. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing BETAINE

• Nivea Baby SHAMPOOING & BAIN HAPPY BATH
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS NIVEA Creme Soft Douchecrème
• Nivea Intimate Gel de toilette intime Apaisant Extrait de camomille, Panthenol & Acide lactique
• Nivea Intimate gel de toilette intime Douceur Huile de jojoba bio, Extrait de camomille & Acide lactique
• Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel Soothing + Bamboo Extract
• Nivea NIVEA Verfrissende Reinigingsgel
• Beiersdorf, Nivea Nivea for men doccia gel energy
• Nivea, Nivea Men Cavani 9 – Gel douche hydratant originale édition limitée
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA MEN sensitive peau sensible
• Nivea, Nivea Men Power Shampoo Anti-pelliculaire
• Beiersdorf, Nivea Douche soin crème veloutée, au beurre de karité
• nivea baby
• Nivea Care Shower Rose & Almond Oil
• Nivea Pure Skin Cleansing Gel
• Beiersdorf Nivea Ansiktsmaske Urban Skin Radience 1stk
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Rice Scrub Smooth 75ml
• Kneipp 2 in 1 Dusche Lemongras Guarana
• Rituals Serenity Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil
• hhh
• Cosmo Naturel, Gravier Shampooing Cheveux secs Karité – Jojoba – Aloe
• herbal essences champu
• Alcina hair & body shampoo
• Balea Men Arctic Fresh Duschgel
• Balea Creme Seife Sensitive
• Balea, dm Jeden Tag Shampoo Mango
• Alverde alverde coffein shampoo
• DM alverde Active Nature Shampoo
• Balea Duschgel Jamaica Vibes
• alverde Naturkosmetik Repair Spülung strapaziertes & brüchiges Haar
• Balea Professional, dm Blond Shampoo
• ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND mild shampoo
• TABAC TABAC’S original bartshampoo & conditioner
• Henkel, Schauma Sports Power-Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Frucht & Vitamin Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Himmlisch Lang, Langhaar Shampoo
• Fa men, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Duschgel Fan edition
• Henkel, Schauma Repair & Pflege Shampoo mit Kokos-Extrakt
• Henkel,Syoss Power Shampoo for Men
• Schwarzkopf & Henkel Fa MEN Sport
• Schaebens Totes Meer Wasch-Gel