Potassium Isostearate
AKA “Isooctadecanoic acid, potassium salt, potassium salt (1:1), RefChem:1096542, Potassium 16-methylheptadecanoate”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Potassium isostearate
AKA: Isooctadecanoic acid, Potassium salt, Potassium salt (1:1), RefChem:1096542, Potassium 16-methylheptadecanoate
Synthetic · Emollient · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Emollient
Cleanser
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Synthetic
Clean
A plant-derived cleanser that gently removes dirt and oil while keeping skin feeling soft and balanced.
Formula
C18H35KO2
Mol. Weight
322.60
CAS #
68413-46-7
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 synthetic surfactant derived from isostearic acid combined with potassium. Created in the modern era for use as a cleansing and emulsifying ingredient in cosmetics.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR