Potassium Myristate

Potassium Myristate is the potassium salt of myristic acid, an anionic, water-soluble soap surfactant. It appears in cleansers and stick foundations to boost cleansing, add lather creaminess, and aid emulsification in higher-pH formulas.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A soap-based cleanser that creates creamy lather in washes.
Category
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Type
Surfactant

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Provides cushioned foam and keeps oil and water dispersed during washing; cleansing intensity is moderate. Evidence is primarily formulation-based, not clinical.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Used in facial cleansers and stick makeup to boost creamy lather and improve structural stability of solid formats.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Generally acceptable in rinse-off or structured formats, but soap alkalinity can increase irritation potential and dryness if overused or left on skin. Sensitive users should minimize contact time.

Is Potassium Myristate a Good Ingredient?

It rates Fair: it provides creamy lather and emulsification in soap-based systems, with benefits grounded in formulation practice rather than clinical evidence, and it may contribute to dryness or irritation from alkalinity, particularly on sensitive skin.

Products with Potassium Myristate

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