Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Mild Anionic Emulsifier for O/W Creams, Lotions & Sunscreens

INCI Name: Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Appearance: White to off-white powder

Solubility: Dispersible in water; melts in oil phase

Recommended Usage: 0.5% – 5.0%

Primary Functions: Primary emulsifier, anionic surfactant, O/W emulsion stabilizer

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is a mild, PEG-free anionic emulsifier widely used in oil-in-water emulsions for skincare and sunscreen formulations. It produces stable, fine emulsions with a light, elegant skin feel and is well known for its compatibility with UV filters and electrolyte-containing systems.

Common Applications

• Facial creams and daily moisturizers
• Sunscreens and SPF emulsions
• Lightweight body lotions
• Eye creams and sensitive-skin products
• Active-rich treatment emulsions

Performance & Formulation Notes

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is valued for its ability to create stable, low-viscosity to medium-viscosity O/W emulsions while remaining gentle on skin. Its anionic character provides good emulsion robustness, particularly in formulations containing salts, UV filters, or acidic actives.

Key Benefits

• Mild, skin-compatible anionic emulsifier
• Excellent stability in sunscreen systems
• Good tolerance to electrolytes and actives
• Produces light, fast-absorbing emulsions
• PEG-free and suitable for modern clean-label concepts

Formulation Guidance

• Emulsion type: Oil-in-water (O/W)
• Processing: Heat in oil phase to 70–75 °C before emulsification
• Co-emulsifiers: Often paired with fatty alcohols or glyceryl stearate for improved texture
• pH range: 4.5 – 8.0
• Viscosity control: Final viscosity adjusted with polymers or fatty structuring agents

Particularly well suited for SPF 30–50 emulsions, daily facial moisturizers, and treatment creams requiring long-term stability and skin comfort.

Documents

Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Supplied as a cosmetic raw material for formulation use only.