Potassium Undecylenoyl Alginate
AKA: Alginate Surfactant
Synthetic
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Marine
Not Clean
Alginic acid, reaction products with 10-undecenoyl chloride, potassium salts
CAS #
224580-88-5
Form
Powder
Functions
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic derivative combining undecylenic acid (from castor oil) with sodium alginate (from seaweed) developed in the late 20th century. It was engineered to combine the antimicrobial benefits of undecylenic acid with the film-forming and thickening properties of alginate.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR