CAE (PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate) is a unique cationic surfactant combining two amino acid moieties with a coconut-derived fatty chain and antimicrobial properties. This structure allows it to deliver the traditional benefits of a cationic surfactant—such as antistatic and conditioning properties—while maintaining an exceptional safety profile that is gentle on both the skin and eye mucosa.
Key Benefit: Outperforms traditional quaternary surfactants in hair resilience and recovery while providing noteworthy antimicrobial activity against acne-causing bacteria.
Performance & Clinical Data
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Hair Resilience: Testing for bending stress recovery demonstrated that CAE outperforms other quaternary cationic surfactants in improving hair recovery.
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Antistatic Efficacy: Effectively prevents the accumulation of static electricity on hair, significantly reducing electrical charge.
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Antimicrobial Spectrum: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) data shows a broad spectrum covering Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and mould.
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Targeted Activity: Exhibits particularly strong activity against S. aureus and S. mutans at very low concentrations.
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Acne Support: Shows noteworthy activity against P. acnes, making it valuable for acne-targeted formulations.
Formulation Guidelines
CAE is highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of leave-on and rinse-off applications
