Potassium undecylenate (inci)

"Potassium...' means the element potassium, 'undecylenate' means salts/esters of undecylenic acid (10-undecenoic acid), an unsaturated fatty acid.

Potassium undecylenate is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance has a skin cleansing effect; it is also used as an emulsifier (a surface-active substance which is used in cosmetic products as an additive to combine two immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - into one emulsion) and as a preservative: a substance which is used in cosmetic products as a preservative. Inhibits the growth of micro-organisms (The general conditions for preservatives which may be used in cosmetics are defined in the EC Cosmetics Regulation - 1223/2009 - Annex V).

1. The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) Manage risks - protect consumers: https://www.bvl.bund.de/DE/03_Verbraucherprodukte/03_AntragstellerUnternehmen/02_Kosmetik/04_Inhaltsstoffe/bgs_fuerAntragsteller_kosmetik_gesetzlicheRegelung_inhaltsstoffe_node.html