Coconut’s many names
Coconut rarely says “coconut” on cosmetics. These are the names to look for, in English and Spanish.
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Coconut, by name
Hydrogenated coconut oil
Also written as: hydrogenated coconut oil · aceite de coco hidrogenado · aceite de coco parcialmente hidrogenado
Solid coconut fat, common in baked goods, candy and non-dairy creamers.
Coconut, cocos nucifera
Also written as: coconut… · cocos nucifera · cocos · coco · copra · aceite de coco · agua de coco · leche de coco · crema de coco · azúcar de coco · harina de coco · coco rallado · coconut oil · coconut milk
The fruit itself: oil, milk, cream, water, flour, sugar, flakes, copra.
Cocamidopropyl betaine / hydroxysultaine
Also written as: cocamidopropyl betaine · cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine · cocamidopropyl… · cocoamidopropyl… · cocamidopropil… · cocoamidopropil… · cocamidopropil betaína · cocoamidopropil betaína · cocamidopropil hidroxisultaína
Foaming agent made from coconut fatty acids. Very common in shampoo, body wash and baby wash.
Cocamide DEA / MEA
Also written as: cocamide dea · cocamide mea · cocamide mipa · cocamide… · cocamida dea · cocamida mea · cocamida… · dietanolamida de coco · monoetanolamida de coco
Thickener and foam booster made from coconut oil.
Cocoyl (sodium cocoyl isethionate, cocoyl glutamate…)
Also written as: cocoyl… · cocoil…
Any 'cocoyl' ingredient is built on coconut fatty acids. Common in 'gentle' syndet bars.
Cocoamphoacetate / cocoamphodiacetate
Also written as: cocoamphoacetate · cocoamphodiacetate · cocoampho… · cocoanfoacetato · cocoanfodiacetato · cocoanfo…
Mild surfactant from coconut, frequent in 'tear-free' baby products.
Sodium coco-sulfate
Also written as: coco-sulfate · coco-sulphate · coco sulfato · coco-sulfato
Often marketed as an 'SLS-free' alternative. It is made from coconut.
Coco-glucoside
Also written as: coco-glucoside · coco glucósido
Plant-based cleanser from coconut and sugar. Common in 'natural' products.
Coco-betaine
Also written as: coco-betaine · coco betaína
Coconut-derived foaming agent.
Cocoate (sodium, potassium, glyceryl, glycereth-2, isoamyl cocoate…)
Also written as: cocoate · cocoato · glycereth-2 cocoate · isoamyl cocoate
Saponified coconut oil: this is how 'coconut soap' appears on bar-soap labels.
Cocoglycerides / hydrogenated coco-glycerides
Also written as: coco-glyceride… · coco-glicérido…
Emollient made from coconut oil. Found in creams, lip balms and suppositories.
Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Also written as: caprylic/capric triglyceride… · capric/caprylic triglyceride… · triglicérido… caprílico… · triglicérido… de ácido caprílico… · caprílico/cáprico triglicérido… · caprylic/capric/myristic/stearic triglyceride… · capric/myristic/stearic triglyceride… · caprylic/capric/stearic triglyceride…
Usually fractionated from coconut oil (sometimes palm kernel). One of the most common ingredients in creams and sunscreen.
Dicaprylate / dicaprate (e.g. propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate)
Also written as: dicaprylate… · dicaprate… · dicaprilato… · dicaprato…
The same C8–C10 fatty acids as caprylic/capric triglyceride, made into a different ester. Almost always from coconut or palm kernel, and the label does not say which.
MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides)
Also written as: mct · mct oil · medium chain triglyceride… · triglicérido… de cadena media · aceite tcm · tcm
Usually from coconut oil. Found in supplements, infant formula, coffee creamers and 'keto' foods.
Anything else starting with “coco-” (coco-caprylate, cocamine, cocotrimonium…)
Also written as: coco… · cocami…
The coco- prefix means coconut. (Cocoa is not coconut and is never flagged.)
Coconut or palm: can’t tell
Sodium lauryl / laureth sulfate (SLS / SLES)
Also written as: sodium lauryl sulfate · sodium lauryl sulphate · sodium laureth sulfate · sodium laureth sulphate · ammonium lauryl sulfate · ammonium laureth sulfate · sls · sles · lauril sulfato… · lauril éter sulfato… · laureth sulfato… · laurilsulfato… · sodium dodecyl sulfate
Made from lauryl alcohol, which can come from coconut oil or other sources. The label never says which.
Decyl / lauryl / caprylyl glucoside
Also written as: decyl glucoside · lauryl glucoside · caprylyl/capryl glucoside · caprylyl glucoside · decil glucósido · lauril glucósido · caprilil glucósido
Gentle cleansers whose fatty alcohol may come from coconut or palm kernel.
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
Also written as: lauroyl sarcosinate · lauroil sarcosinato · sarcosinato de lauroilo
Foaming agent from lauric acid (coconut or palm kernel). Common in toothpaste.
Isoamyl laurate
Also written as: isoamyl laurate · laurato de isoamilo
Silicone alternative made from lauric acid.
Lauroyl lysine
Also written as: lauroyl lysine · lauroil lisina
Texture powder in makeup, made from lauric acid (coconut or palm kernel) and an amino acid.
Cetearyl / cetyl / stearyl alcohol (and ceteareth-, steareth-)
Also written as: cetearyl alcohol · cetyl alcohol · stearyl alcohol · cetostearyl alcohol · alcohol cetearílico · alcohol cetílico · alcohol estearílico · alcohol cetoestearílico · ceteareth… · steareth…
Waxy 'fatty alcohols' (not drying alcohol). Usually palm or coconut, sometimes other oils.
Glyceryl stearate
Also written as: glyceryl stearate… · glycerol monostearate · estearato de gliceril… · estearato de glicerol · monoestearato de glicer… · gliceril estearato
Emulsifier from glycerin + stearic acid; both can be coconut- or palm-derived.
Stearic acid
Also written as: stearic acid · ácido esteárico
Fatty acid from vegetable oils (often palm, sometimes coconut) or animal fat.
Glycerin / glycerol
Also written as: glycerin… · glycerol · glicerina · glicerol
A by-product of processing any fat or oil, coconut included, or made synthetically. Almost never labelled by source.
Lauric acid
Also written as: lauric acid · ácido láurico
The main fatty acid in coconut oil; also abundant in palm kernel oil.
Laurate (sorbitan laurate, PEG laurate…)
Also written as: laurate · laurato
Esters of lauric acid (coconut or palm kernel).
Laureth- (laureth-4, laureth-7…)
Also written as: laureth…
Ethoxylated lauryl alcohol (coconut or palm kernel).
Other lauryl / lauroyl / lauramide ingredients
Also written as: lauryl… · lauril… · lauroyl… · lauroil… · lauramid… · lauramin…
Anything built on lauric acid or lauryl alcohol: coconut or palm kernel.
Myristyl / myristate / myristic acid
Also written as: myristyl… · myristate · myristic acid · miristil… · miristato · ácido mirístico
Fatty acid found in coconut and palm kernel oil (e.g. isopropyl myristate).
Palmitate / palmitic acid
Also written as: palmitate · palmitato · palmitic acid · ácido palmítico
Usually palm-derived, but the source is rarely stated (e.g. ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate).
Vegetable fat / shortening (foods)
Also written as: vegetable fat… · vegetable shortening · shortening · hydrogenated vegetable oil · grasa vegetal · grasas vegetales · manteca vegetal · aceite vegetal hidrogenado · grasa vegetal hidrogenada
In Latin American foods, 'grasa vegetal' is very often palm or coconut. Ask the maker.
Caprylyl glycol / capryloyl glycine
Also written as: caprylyl glycol · capryloyl glycine · caprilil glicol · capriloil glicina
Preservative boosters built on caprylic acid, which is usually taken from coconut or palm kernel oil.
Polysorbate 20
Also written as: polysorbate 20 · polisorbato 20
Built on lauric acid, which usually comes from coconut or palm kernel. Polysorbate 80 is a different one, made from olive-type fatty acids, and is not flagged.
Tri-C12-18 acid glyceryl (lauric-chain triglycerides)
Also written as: c12-18 acid glyceryl · tri c12 18 acid glyceryl
The C12 part is lauric acid, the same chain coconut and palm kernel give. The label doesn't say which was used.
Never flagged: cocoa, cocoas, cocoon. Cocoa and cacao are a different plant.
Reactions to refined derivatives vary from person to person. This list helps you ask better questions; your allergist decides what you avoid. Educational only, not medical advice. Always confirm with your allergist.
Printed from allergictococonut.com/names/ · September 28, 2026