EMPIGEN® S18 is a premium silicone-free hair-conditioning ingredient based on Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine. It is designed for modern hair-care formulations where effective conditioning, improved manageability and a smooth sensory profile are desired without relying on conventional silicone conditioning agents.

EMPIGEN® S18 helps provide hair conditioning, antistatic performance and improved combability while also contributing to formulation viscosity. It is particularly suitable for shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments, 2-in-1 products and other rinse-off hair-care formulations.

The ingredient is supplied as white waxy flakes and is listed by Innospec as a conditioning agent for both hair and skin applications.

Key Features & Benefits

• Premium silicone-free hair conditioning agent
• INCI: Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Helps improve hair conditioning
• Supports easier wet and dry combability
• Helps provide smoother-feeling hair
• Provides antistatic benefits
• Helps reduce the perception of frizz and flyaways
• Designed to minimize conditioning buildup
• Can contribute to formulation viscosity
• Suitable for rinse-off and conditioning systems
• Compatible with typical anionic surfactant systems
• Can be used with other conditioning ingredients
• Suitable for shampoos and 2-in-1 formulations
• Excellent choice for conditioner and treatment formulations
• White waxy flake physical form
• Listed as approximately 78% naturally derived by Innospec
• Suitable for professional cosmetic formulation applications

INCI Name

Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Chemical Class

Conditioning Agent

Primary Function

Hair Conditioning / Antistatic / Formulation Viscosity Builder

Innospec specifically categorizes EMPIGEN® S18 as a conditioning agent and describes its applications in hair and skin conditioning.

Hair Care Applications

EMPIGEN® S18 is particularly suitable for:

Shampoos

Can be incorporated into conditioning shampoo systems to provide improved hair feel and manageability.

2-in-1 Shampoos

Useful in cleansing systems where conditioning performance is desired alongside shampoo cleansing.

Hair Conditioners

Helps provide smoother-feeling hair and improved combability.

Hair Treatments

Suitable for intensive conditioning masks, repair-oriented cosmetic treatments and rinse-off treatments.

Hair Masks

Can contribute to improved softness, manageability and conditioning performance.

Hair Colour Products

Can be incorporated into selected hair-colouring and post-colour conditioning systems.

Shampoo Bars

Suitable for solid hair-cleansing formulations where conditioning properties are desired.

Anti-Frizz Hair Products

Can contribute to smoother hair appearance and help reduce static and flyaway effects.

Performance Benefits

Improved Combability

EMPIGEN® S18 helps improve hair manageability, making hair easier to comb after cleansing and conditioning.

Conditioning Effect

It deposits conditioning functionality onto the hair and helps create a smoother, softer-feeling hair surface.

Antistatic Performance

Its antistatic properties can help reduce unwanted static and flyaway hair.

Silicone-Free Conditioning

EMPIGEN® S18 provides a conditioning option for formulations designed without silicone-based conditioning agents.

Reduced Buildup

The ingredient is designed to minimize the buildup effect associated with some conventional conditioning systems.

Viscosity Contribution

EMPIGEN® S18 can also contribute to the viscosity profile of suitable formulations, making it useful in the development of conditioning rinse-off products.

Suitable Product Types

• Shampoo
• Conditioning Shampoo
• 2-in-1 Shampoo
• Hair Conditioner
• Deep Conditioner
• Hair Mask
• Hair Treatment
• Repair Hair Treatment
• Anti-Frizz Conditioner
• Smoothing Conditioner
• Shampoo Bar
• Hair Colour Conditioner
• Post-Colour Hair Care
• Rinse-Off Hair Care Products
  

  Processing & How to Use

  EMPIGEN® S18 is supplied in flake form and may require heating to incorporate it effectively into a formulation.

  A typical formulation approach is:

  1. Add EMPIGEN® S18 to the appropriate heated phase.
  2. Heat sufficiently to melt/disperse the flakes according to the supplier’s processing guidance.
  3. Mix until the material is uniformly incorporated.
  4. Combine with the remaining formulation phases according to the formulation procedure.
  5. Cool under controlled mixing.
  6. Adjust the final formulation to the required pH.
  7. Evaluate viscosity, stability, conditioning performance and sensory properties.