"Tallow" refers to components from animal tallow (bovine tallow ), "betaine" (also called trimethylglycine or glycine betaine), is a quaternary ammonium compound with three methyl groups. Betaine is a derivative of the amino acid glycine and is formed as a by-product in sugar production from, among other things, the molasses of the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris, hence "betaine"). Tallow betaine is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance mixture acts as surfactant (washing-active substance; improves the even distribution of the products during application), hair conditioning agent (makes the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and gives it volume), solubilizer (is able to dissolve or dilute substances without causing chemical reactions between the dissolved substance and the substance to be dissolved) and as substance with cleansing effect and as foaming agent (increases the formation of foam and improves the volume, structure and stability of the foam).