Structure® M3 co-surfactant significantly reduces the irritation potential of commonly used surfactant systems, offering customers the optimal balance of mildness, cleansing, and foaming in shampoo, facial cleanser, and body wash formulations. Designed with sustainability in mind, it is available as a waterless, free-flowing powder of high natural content (NOI1 = 85), and it is readily biodegradable (per OECD 301B2). Additionally, it is cold-water processable and compatible with both sulfate- and sulfate-free surfactant systems. Depending on the surfactant system and the total percent of the surfactant system, including Structure® M3 in your formulation can reduce the irritation potential between 10 to over 50%. In our tests the irritation potential is measured by zein solubility tests. The high mildness of Structure® M3 is achieved due to its relatively larger micelles. If you increase the percentage of M3 in your formulation the average micelle size will become bigger and the mildness increases.

1. NOI= Natural Origin Index
2. OECD 301B = Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development- aligned test that uses respirometry to determine the biodegradability of the material.