Abstract: A low irritant surfactant composition particularly adapted for shampoos and other light duty cleansing applications, comprising substantially equimolar amounts of a betaine surfactant and an amine fatty alcohol sulfate or sulfonate in a high boiling water miscible, polar, organic liquid. Preferably, the betaine is of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a long chain alkyl group and R.sub.2 is a short chain alkylene group, and n is an integer from 1 to 3; and the betaine is prepared in a reaction system containing the organic liquid. The alkanolamine fatty alcohol sulfate or sulfonate is then added to the system in an equimolar amount, or preferably prepared in situ in the reaction medium by the reaction of an amine with a long chain alkyl monoester of sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A low irritant surfactant composition particularly adapted for shampoos and other light duty cleansing applications, comprising substantially equimolar amounts of a betaine surfactant and an amine fatty alcohol sulfate or sulfonate in a high boiling water miscible, polar, organic liquid. Preferably, the betaine is of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a long chain alkyl group and R.sub.2 is a short chain alkylene group, and n is an integer from 1 to 3; and the betaine is prepared in a reaction system containing the organic liquid. The alkanolamine fatty alcohol sulfate or sulfonate is then added to the system in an equimolar amount, or preferably prepared in situ in the reaction medium by the reaction of an amine with a long chain alkyl monoester of sulfuric acid.