Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate molecular structure
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 84861-79-0, Cetylphosphate potassium salt, 19035-79-1, Potassium hexadecyl hydrogenphosphate, Potassium hexadecyl hydrogen phosphate
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Clean
1-hexadecanol, phosphate, potassium salt
Formula
C16H34KO4P
Mol. Weight
360.51
CAS #
84861-79-0, 19035-79-1
Form
Powder
State
Other Solid
Functions
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.
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Removes Impurities
Mixes Oil & Water
Traditional Use
Synthetic emulsifier developed in the 20th century. Combines cetyl alcohol (derived from whale oil or plant sources) with phosphate chemistry to create stable water-oil emulsions in cosmetics.
EWG
1
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
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