Potassium Castorate
AKA “Potassium castor oil, Potassium ricinoleate”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Potassium castorate
AKA: Potassium castor oil, Potassium ricinoleate
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Cleanser
Plant Oil
Clean
fatty acids, castor oil, potassium salts
CAS #
8013-05-6
Form
Liquid
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
Synthetic ester derived from castor oil, which has been used in traditional medicine and cosmetics for millennia in India and Africa. The potassium salt was developed in the 20th century as a modern emulsifier and conditioning agent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Rici
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Potassium Castorate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Ricinoleate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Potassium Castorate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Potassium Ricinoleate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR