Potassium Behenate
AKA “Potassium docosanoate, Docosanoic acid, potassium salt (1:1), BEHENIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT, RefChem:175418, DTXCID7047227”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Potassium behenate
AKA: Potassium docosanoate, Docosanoic acid, Potassium salt (1:1), BEHENIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT, RefChem:175418, DTXCID7047227
Synthetic · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Cleanser
Plant Oil
Synthetic
Clean
A plant-derived cleanser that gently removes dirt and oil without stripping skin. Leaves complexion feeling soft and balanced.
Formula
C22H43KO2
Mol. Weight
378.70
CAS #
7211-53-2
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Removes Impurities
Cleansing Surfactant
Traditional Use
A potassium salt of behenic acid derived from plant oils. No significant traditional use; developed in the 20th century as an emulsifier and thickening agent in modern cosmetics.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Effect of the ratio between behenyl alcohol and behenic acid on the oleogel properties.
Callau M, Sow-Kébé K, Nicolas-Morgantini L, Fameau AL
Journal of colloid and interface science, 2020
Effect of the ratio between behenyl alcohol and behenic acid on the oleogel properties.
Callau M, Sow-Kébé K, Nicolas-Morgantini L, Fameau AL
Journal of colloid and interface science, 2020
Behenic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Behenate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Behenic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Potassium Behenate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Inhibitory Effect of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract and Its Behenic Acid Component on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation.
Kim S, Kim TJ
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 2024
Inhibitory Effect of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract and Its Behenic Acid Component on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation.
Kim S, Kim TJ
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 2024
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR