Potassium Hydroxide

Balances the pH.

What it is

An alkaline mineral compound of potassium, made in a lab.

Adjusts the product's pH, its level of acidity, to the intended level.

A short summary from the dictionary, not yet an in-depth article. About these entries

What it does in a formula

Balances the pHOfficial EU function: Buffering

What official sources say

Worth knowing · The pure substance, EU

As a pure substance it can irritate or damage skin or eyes (EU harmonised classification). How much a product contains matters.

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated text, Annex VI Part 3 Table 3 (harmonised classifications), retrieved 2026-10-09

Restricted in certain uses · Cosmetics, EU

Allowed in EU cosmetics within limits that depend on the product type, in the product types the entry lists (Annex III, entry 15a).

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III: list of substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down, retrieved 2026-10-09

Worth knowing · The pure substance, EU

As a pure substance it is harmful by its classification (acute or organ toxicity) (EU harmonised classification). How much a product contains matters.

Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated text, Annex VI Part 3 Table 3 (harmonised classifications), retrieved 2026-10-09

A label gives no amounts, so none of this says a product is unsafe.