Database/Viscosity Controlling/Potassium Polyacrylate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Potassium Polyacrylate natural?

Mostly not. A synthetic acrylic polymer; only the potassium counter-ion counts as natural.

INCI namePotassium Polyacrylate
CAS25608-12-2
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockAcrylic acid polymerised and neutralised with potassium hydroxide.

How we scored it

Repeat unit potassium acrylate C3H3KO2 110.2 Da: acrylate backbone C3H3O2 71.1 Da petrochemical + K+ 39.1 Da natural (mineral) → 0.35. Same method as Sodium Polyacrylate.
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

Acrylic acid polymerised and neutralised with potassium hydroxide.

In plain English

A water-swellable thickener used in gels and masks. It is built from synthetic acrylic acid neutralised with potassium, giving a smooth, non-greasy gel texture.

CosIng definition: 2-Propenoic acid, homopolymer, potassium salts

Natural alternatives with the same function

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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 POLYACRYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POTASSIUM POLYACRYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20POLYACRYLATE