Potassium Hydroxystearate

AKA “Potassium 12-hydroxystearate, UNII-21BAV0FPAX, Octadecanoic acid, potassium salt (1:1), RefChem:175499, (+-)-POTASSIUM HYDROXYSTEARATE, POTASSIUM HYDROXYSTEARATE [INCI], POTASSIUM HYDROXYSTEARATE”

Synthetic

Ingredient Facts

Potassium hydroxystearate

AKA: Potassium 12-hydroxystearate, UNII-21BAV0FPAX, Octadecanoic acid, Potassium salt (1:1), RefChem:175499, (+-)-POTASSIUM HYDROXYSTEARATE, POTASSIUM HYDROXYSTEARATE [INCI]

Synthetic · Emollient · EWG: 4

Plant-Derived

Emollient

Cleanser

Skin Conditioner

Plant Oil

Synthetic

Clean

A plant-based cleanser that gently removes dirt and oil without stripping skin, leaving it fresh and balanced.

Formula

C18H35KO3

Mol. Weight

338.60

CAS #

34326-46-0

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.

Emollient

Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Cleansing Surfactant

Removes Impurities

Traditional Use

A modern synthetic surfactant created by combining potassium with stearic acid derivatives. Developed in the 20th century for use as a mild cleanser and emulsifier in contemporary skincare and body care products.