What Is Potassium rhodanate?

Learn about the light stabilizer characteristics of Potassium rhodanate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Potassium rhodanate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Potassium rhodanate?

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Potassium thiocyanate is a type of salt that can be used in cosmetics to help stabilize the product and prevent it from breaking down when exposed to light. It comes in either pellet or crystal form, and is a colorless solid that can absorb moisture from the air. Essentially, it helps keep your cosmetic products looking and working their best for longer periods of time.

What is the purpose of Potassium rhodanate in personal care products? It is used for its light stabilizer characteristics. Potassium rhodanate shields ingredients from damage caused by light exposure.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Potassium rhodanate, Potassium Thiocyanate, and "Thiocyanic acid, potassium salt".

What Are Light Stabilizer Ingredients?

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Potassium rhodanate has light stabilizer characteristics.

Light stabilizer ingredients are commonly added to cosmetic products to protect them from light's damaging effects. These ingredients work by preventing light from breaking down the active ingredients in the cosmetic product, which can lead to the ingredients becoming less effective or even causing harm to the skin.

When a cosmetic product is exposed to light, the energy from light can cause chemical reactions to occur within the product. These reactions can break down the active ingredients, causing them to become less effective. In addition, these reactions can create new compounds that may harm the skin. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these reactions from occurring by absorbing the energy from the light and dissipating it as heat. This process protects the active ingredients in the product and prevents the formation of harmful compounds.

Light stabilizer ingredients are essential in skincare products that contain active ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids. These ingredients are known to be particularly sensitive to light, and their effectiveness can be significantly reduced if they are not protected.

In addition to protecting the active ingredients in the product, light stabilizer ingredients can also help maintain the product's appearance and texture. Light exposure can cause cosmetic products to change color, become cloudy, or separate. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these changes from occurring, ensuring that the product remains stable and effective.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.