Optimizing interactions between soluble silk fibroin and capryl glucoside for design of a natural and high-performance co-surfactant system.

Silk fibroin in combination with capryl glucoside outperforms other commercial surfactants that are commonly used in the industry because of its surface-active behaviour and synergy. This system is then enhanced further with polysaccharide rheological modifiers, carrageen and xanthan gum to help build up viscosity. The complex mixture of silk fibroin, sugar surfactant and biopolymer results in a formulation that is all natural, while still having high performance by achieving great foamability and enhanced sebum removal. The mixture can further be used to formulate a fully natural product such as a cleanser or shampoo while still having the same or greater effectiveness as synthetic surfactants and ingredients typically used in cosmetic formulations.