What Is Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate?
Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate is a plant or vegetable derived ingredient created when citric acid reacts with the natural fats found in stearic and palmitic acids. These fats, which are common in many seed and nut oils, first get turned into mono, di and triglycerides. When citric acid is added, the mixture forms a new group of gentle, skin friendly triglycerides. Finally potassium is introduced to turn the blend into a stable salt that dissolves well in water based formulas.
The ingredient began appearing in personal care products in the early 2000s as formulators looked for multi tasking emulsifiers that could also soften skin. Since it is made from renewable plant oils and food grade citric acid, it quickly gained favor with brands aiming for clean or naturally leaning labels.
Production involves heating refined stearic and palmitic oils with glycerin to make the glycerides, blending in citric acid under controlled temperature, then neutralizing the mixture with potassium hydroxide. The finished material is filtered, dried and milled into an easy to handle powder or flake.
You are most likely to find Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate in moisturizers, face masks, lightweight lotions, anti aging creams, sun care products, hair conditioners and makeup such as liquid foundation or BB creams. Its wide range of functions lets chemists simplify their ingredient lists while keeping textures smooth and stable.
Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This versatile ingredient performs several jobs at once, which is why it shows up in so many formulas
- Binding – helps powdered or granular ingredients stick together evenly so the product feels consistent every time you use it
- Bulking – adds harmless weight and volume, useful for creating rich creams without loading on extra active ingredients that might irritate skin
- Emulsion Stabilising – keeps oil and water phases from separating, extending shelf life and preventing that unappealing layer of liquid on top of a cream
- Preservative – its mild acidic nature can lower the pH just enough to slow down the growth of microbes, supporting the main preservative system
- Skin Conditioning – leaves a soft, supple feel after application, making skin appear smoother
- Emollient – fills in tiny gaps on the skin surface to reduce roughness and flaking
- Emulsifying – helps oils disperse into water or vice versa so the final product spreads easily and absorbs well
- Viscosity Controlling – adjusts thickness so a lotion pours, a cream scoops or a gel glides just the way consumers expect
Who Can Use Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate
Most skin types tolerate this ingredient well. Its light emollient nature makes it helpful for dry or flaky skin, yet it is not overly greasy so normal and combination skin can enjoy it too. People with oily or blemish prone skin usually do fine because the molecule has low clogging potential, though extremely acne prone users may prefer very minimalist formulas.
The material is plant derived with no animal by-products, so it fits vegan and vegetarian lifestyles.
No research points to problems for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding when the ingredient is used topically at cosmetic levels. This is not medical advice and anyone expecting or nursing should have a doctor review their full skincare routine just to be safe.
Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight and it plays nicely with common actives such as vitamin C or retinol.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate differ from person to person. The points below list potential effects only and most users will never notice them when a product is properly formulated.
- Mild redness or warmth on very sensitive skin
- Temporary stinging if applied to broken or freshly exfoliated skin
- Rare allergic contact dermatitis marked by itching or small bumps
- Occasional eye irritation if the product migrates into the eye area
- Possible increase in surface oil or breakouts for those highly prone to congestion if the overall formula is heavy
If any of these issues occur stop using the product and seek guidance from a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 / 5
This low score reflects the ingredient’s salt form, which leaves it partly water soluble and far less oily than raw stearic or palmitic acid. It sits on skin long enough to soften and smooth yet is unlikely to block pores in most users. Light texture, rapid dispersion and the fact that only small amounts are used in finished formulas further reduce clogging risk.
Suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin when used in a well-balanced product, though very sensitive or highly congested skin types may still prefer simpler formulas.
Keep in mind that overall comedogenicity depends on the full formulation, not a single ingredient, so the presence of heavy oils or waxes alongside it could change how pore friendly the final product feels.
Summary
Potassium Glyceryl Tricetearate/Citrate acts as an emulsifier, emollient, skin conditioner, mild preservative booster, binder and viscosity controller. Its potassium salt structure lets it sit at the oil-water interface, locking droplets together so creams stay smooth while its fatty backbone softens and fills tiny surface gaps for a supple feel. A slight acidity supports preservative systems and its bulky nature gives body without greasiness.
It enjoys steady popularity with brands focused on plant-derived or minimalist formulas because one ingredient tackles several jobs, trimming label length and simplifying production. It is not yet a household name but shows up consistently in moisturizers, sunscreens, light foundations and hair care.
Overall safety is high with irritation or allergy reported only rarely. While most people tolerate it well, anyone trying a new product that includes this multifunctional salt should still patch test first to make sure their individual skin reacts comfortably.