Potassium Behenate

AKA: Potassium docosanoate, 7211-53-2, Docosanoic acid, Potassium salt (1:1), BEHENIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT

Synthetic

Cleanser

Plant Oil

Clean

Potassium salt of behenic acid

Formula

C22H43KO2

Mol. Weight

378.70

CAS #

7211-53-2

Form

Liquid

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.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

CIR Safety Findings

Not a Sensitizer

medical-approval

all-shades-safe

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

Verified Jun 2026

Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR