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Potassium C12-13 Alkyl Phosphate
AKA “Anionic surfactant, Soap”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Potassium c12-13 alkyl phosphate
AKA: Anionic surfactant, Soap
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Cleanser
Clean
Potassium salt of a complex mixture of esters of phosphoric acid and C12-13 alcohols
Effective at 4.18%
CAS #
90506-45-9; 17026-85-6; 19035-79-1; 84861-79-0; 190454-07-0; 39322-78-6
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Cleansing Surfactant
Removes Impurities
Traditional Use
A synthetic surfactant developed in the mid-20th century for cosmetic formulations. No traditional use; created as an emulsifier and cleansing agent in contemporary skincare products.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.05%
8.3%
0%12%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 0.05-8.3
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Potassium C12-13 Alkyl Phosphate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
quillaja saponaria (soapbark) bark extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium C12-13 Alkyl Phosphate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
quillaja saponaria (soapbark) bark extract
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Occupational contact dermatitis caused by sodium cocoamphopropionate in a liquid soap used in fast-food restaurants.
Hagvall L, Bråred-Christensson J, Inerot A
Contact dermatitis, 2014
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Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
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Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
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Occupational immediate type allergy to soapnut and quillaja bark.
Merget R, Raulf M, Sander I
Allergologie select, 2021
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Morphological study of cationic polymer-anionic surfactant complex precipitated in solution during the dilution process.
Miyake M, Kakizawa Y
Journal of cosmetic science, 2010
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Clinical Evaluation of a Soap-Free Cleansing Lotion Containing Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids for Effective Impurity Removal and Skin Barrier Preserv
Patel M, Khatri A, Khatri R, Sreevallabhan S, Jose S et al.
Cureus, 2025
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Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR