Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Potassium Ethylparaben, Ethylparaben potassium, ETHYL P-HYDROXYBENZOATE POTASSIUM SALT, P-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID ETHYL ESTER POTASSIUM SALT, BENZOIC ACID, POTASSIUM SALT (1:1)
Synthetic
Chelating Agent
Not Clean
Potassium salt of ethyl ester of PVM/MA copolymer
Formula
C9H9KO3
Mol. Weight
204.26
CAS #
36457-19-9
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Functions
Chelating
Grabs onto metal ions in water that would destabilize the formula. Keeps your product from going bad or changing color.
Removes Metal Ions
Binds metal ions
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic polymer created in the late 20th century for use as a film-former and styling agent in hair and skincare products. Designed to replace natural resins with improved stability and consistency.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
8.0%
0%11%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 8.0%. 0,4% (as acid) for single ester 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 12. Dermal absorption: 0.1%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 746).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed0 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR