Potassium Alum
What Is It?
In cosmetics and personal care products, Potassium Alum is used in the formulation of cleansing products, skin care products, moisturizers, face powders and deodorants.
Why Is It Used?
Potassium Alum is an astringent. Astringents induce a tightening or tingling sensation of the skin.
Scientific Facts
Potassium Alum, or Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, is a naturally occurring mineral known as kalunite (rock form) and kalinite (fiberA slender, threadlike structure that forms animal or plant tissue form). It is typically found as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulfide- and potassium-bearing minerals. Potassium, aluminum and the sulfate ion are widely found in food and in the human body.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the use of Potassium Alum as a bleaching agent in the preparation of flourThe fine edible powder obtained by grinding and sifting cereal grain, usually mostly freed from the bran and cheeses. FDA allows Alum, including Potassium Alum, to be used in Over-The-Counter (OTC) oral health care products as an astrigent. When used as an active ingredient in OTC products this ingredient must be listed on the label as Alum, Potassium. The Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) has deferred evaluation of this ingredient because the safety has been assessed by FDA. This deferral of review is according to the provisions of the CIR Procedures.
Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Potassium Alum
Information about the use of Alum in OTC oral health care products.
Potassium Alum may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions..
More Scientific Information
Potassium Alum is an inorganic salt. In cosmetics and personal care products, Potassium Alum functions as an astringent. It also approved for use in OTC oral health care products.
Resources
Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration
- Food Ingredients and Packaging
- Food Contact Substances
- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS“GRAS” is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.)
Find out more about the regulation of over-the-counter drugs by the Food and Drug Administration