"Potassium" refers to the element potassium, "lauroyl" to the ingredient lauric acid (dodecanoic acid), "hydrolyzed collagen" to collagen hydrolysates that have been made water-soluble by enzymatic processes. Collagen hydrolysates are obtained from animal connective tissue, especially bovine collagen. In Asia, collagen hydrolysates are often obtained from Pacific fish species (cod) or from chicken collagen.
Potassium lauroyl hydrolyzed collagen is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance acts as an antistatic agent (reduces static electricity by neutralizing the electrical charge on the surface, e.g. of hair), combability aid (reduces or prevents tangling of the hair due to changes or damage on the hair surface, thus improving combability) and as a surfactant (washing-active substance; improves the even distribution of the products during application).