Potassium Tallowate

AKA: Potassium salt of tallow fatty acids

Synthetic

Cleanser

Emulsifier

Clean

Fatty acids, tallow, potassium salts

CAS #

61790-32-7

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.

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

A saponified derivative of tallow (rendered animal fat) developed in the 19th century as a soap base. Tallow itself has been used for soap and candle making since ancient times, but potassium tallowate represents the modern industrial formulation used in cleansing products.

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-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