Potassium C12-13 Alkyl Phosphate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Anionic surfactant, Soap
Synthetic
Cleanser
Clean
Potassium salt of a complex mixture of esters of phosphoric acid and C12-13 alcohols
Effective at 4.18%
CAS #
90506-45-9; 17026-85-6; 19035-79-1; 84861-79-0; 190454-07-0; 39322-78-6
Form
Powder
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing Surfactant
Removes Impurities
Traditional Use
A synthetic surfactant developed in the mid-20th century for cosmetic formulations. No traditional use; created as an emulsifier and cleansing agent in contemporary skincare products.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.05%
8.3%
0%12%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.05-8.3
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR