Potassium Undecylenate
AKA “Undecylenic acid, potassium salt, UNII-768M7EX694, RefChem:175641, DTXCID80133082, POTASSIUM UNDECYLENATE [INCI]”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Potassium undecylenate
AKA: Undecylenic acid, Potassium salt, UNII-768M7EX694, RefChem:175641, DTXCID80133082, POTASSIUM UNDECYLENATE [INCI]
Synthetic · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Synthetic
Clean
A natural-origin cleansing agent that helps lift dirt and oil while keeping the formula stable and fresh.
Formula
C11H19KO2
Mol. Weight
222.37
CAS #
6159-41-7
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Preserves Formula
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Lifts away dirt and oil
Prevents microbial growth
Mixes oil and water
Traditional Use
Undecylenic acid, derived from castor oil, was first isolated in the 1940s and developed as an antifungal agent. Potassium undecylenate represents the salt form created to improve stability and efficacy in modern skincare and antifungal products.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.2%
0%0%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.2%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 18.
Regulatory Agencies
Efficacy of undecylenic acid-zinc undecylenate powder in culture positive tinea pedis.
Chretien JH, Esswein JG, Sharpe LM, Kiely JJ, Lyddon FE
International journal of dermatology, 1980
Potassium Undecylenate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Undecylenic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Novel Formulation of Undecylenic Acid induces Tumor Cell ...
Zoe I Day, Alyce J Mayfosh, Marie-Claire Giel, Yuning Hong, Scott A Williams, Jascinta P Santavanond + 3 more
International journal of molecular sciences, 2022
Undecylenic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Molecular modeling and phenoloxidase inhibitory activity of arbutin and arbutin undecylenic acid ester.
Masyita A, Salim E, Asri RM, Nainu F, Hori A et al.
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2021
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR