Potassium C12-14 Alkyl Phosphate
AKA “Anionic surfactant, Soap
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Potassium c12-14 alkyl phosphate
AKA: Anionic surfactant, Soap
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Cleanser
Not Clean
Potassium salt of a complex mixture of esters of phosphoric acid and a synthetic fatty alcohol containing 12 to 14 carbons in the alkyl chain
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 anionic surfactant developed in the mid-20th century. Created to provide gentle cleansing and emulsifying properties in modern cosmetics without traditional predecessors.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Potassium C12-14 Alkyl Phosphate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
quillaja saponaria (soapbark) bark extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
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
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
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
Occupational immediate type allergy to soapnut and quillaja bark.
Merget R, Raulf M, Sander I
Allergologie select, 2021
Morphological study of cationic polymer-anionic surfactant complex precipitated in solution during the dilution process.
Miyake M, Kakizawa Y
Journal of cosmetic science, 2010
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
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR