Database/Uv Absorber/Potassium Methoxycinnamate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Potassium Methoxycinnamate natural?

Mostly not. Potassium counter-ion is mineral; the methoxycinnamate chromophore is built from benzene-derived anisaldehyde and a malonic or acetic acid unit, so it is petrochemical.

INCI namePotassium Methoxycinnamate
CAS86636-96-6
FormulaC10H9KO3 · 216.27 Da
FunctionUv Absorber
Feedstock4-Methoxycinnamic acid is synthesised from p-anisaldehyde by Knoevenagel…

How we scored it

C10H9KO3 216.27: K+ 39.10 mineral; 4-methoxycinnamate C10H9O3 177.17 aromatic UV chromophore n = 0; 39.10 / 216.27 = 0.18.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

4-Methoxycinnamic acid is synthesised from p-anisaldehyde by Knoevenagel or Perkin condensation and neutralised with potassium hydroxide. No commercially significant natural route is known.

In plain English

The potassium salt of 4-methoxycinnamic acid, a water-soluble ingredient that absorbs ultraviolet-B light. The aromatic acid part is made from petrochemical building blocks and neutralised with potassium.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of sunflower seeds used in skincare and haircare to condition skin and hair and offer mild…

 Manganese Oxide 100% natural origin

A dark mineral powder that absorbs ultraviolet and visible light, used in small amounts as a colourant or…

 Spirulina Platensis Powder 100% natural origin

A powder made from dried, ground Spirulina algae. Used in skincare to help protect and condition the skin.

 Tocotrienols 100% natural origin

A form of vitamin E extracted from sources like palm oil, rice bran, or annatto. Used in skin…

 Zinc Ascorbate Hydroxide 100% natural origin

A zinc salt of vitamin C made by reacting ascorbic acid with zinc chloride and sodium hydroxide. It…

Structure

2D structure of Potassium Methoxycinnamate

potassium (E)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 23721982 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Potassium Methoxycinnamate. PubChem CID 23721982. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3POTASSIUM METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4POTASSIUM METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20METHOXYCINNAMATE