The potassium soap of palmitic acid, used as a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
What it is
Potassium palmitate is potassium hexadecanoate, the potassium salt of palmitic acid, a saturated C16 fatty acid; it is a soap. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in shaving products, cleansing foams and other cleansing products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not reveal the source of the palmitic acid.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.